Caitlin Clark is still rewriting the NCAA's record books, even in her spare time.
He is the all-time leader in 3-point field goals made in a single NCAA season, a feat tied with Golden State Warriors legend and former Davidson star Stephen Curry and former Liberty guard Darius McGee at 162. .
Clark entered Friday's game in Iowa's Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals against No. 7 seed Penn State one 3-pointer shy of a layup that didn't come until the fourth quarter. He finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the 95-62 victory, though he was 5-of-19 shooting and 2-of-14 from 3-point range.
His first touchdown of the game resulted in a missed triple midway through the first quarter, followed by two free throws for his first four points. Given her tendency to prioritize her teammates and Iowa's success when it counts, Clark is quick to pass the ball when it comes to her.
But thanks to the Nittany Lions' defense and Clark's awareness, he missed 11 3-point attempts and turned the ball over twice before he broke the record. He didn't make a field goal until giving Iowa its first points of the second quarter, and hit a deep 2-pointer with less than four minutes left.
With eight minutes left in the fourth, she hit the record-breaking shot in front of a cheering crowd. An expression of relief flashed across her face before she raised her hands and encouraged the cheer.
“The Clark Effect” drove viewership and attendance through the roof this season, which is why the women's Big Ten tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis was sold out for the first time in its history. More than 109,000 fans bought tickets for the five-day event.
When Curry was asked about Clark's stardom, he reflected on how much time has changed since he brought crowds of reporters and fans to Davidson's games in 2008.
“I can't imagine what it's like now,” Curry said Athletic. “Twitter was actually mine before a thing. I didn't get Instagram until I was a junior in college. So just the social media element makes it really crazy.
There was no mistaking who drew Friday's crowd, as an audible “Caitlin Clark, Caitlin Clark, Caitlin Clark” shattered the silence of the opening tip.
Many of those fans relished the moment they had patiently waited hours before Clarke took the court.
The Big Ten Tournament is single-elimination, and Friday's contest will be the last conference game of Clark's college career. The Hawkeyes weren't too worried after taking a 46-26 lead into the first half.
After Clark's unforgettable run in the NCAA ends, she will take her talents to the WNBA. He announced his plans to forego his fifth year at Iowa in a social media post on February 29.
On March 3, just days after Clark broke the news of her WNBA intentions, she scored 35 points in Iowa's 93–83 win over Ohio State, shattering LSU great Pete Maravich's all-time NCAA scoring record in her final regular-season college game.
Clark also broke some records in last year's NCAA tournament. He holds the mark for most 3-pointers made in a single contest with 25. He also broke the national championship game record for 3-pointers, hitting eight in a loss to LSU.
She and Iowa will return to the title game when March Madness begins later this month. The test is Sunday, March 17. But the Hawkeyes hope to win the Big Ten tournament first, which will be Saturday's semifinals and the championship game on Sunday.
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