In a stellar performance on Sunday afternoon, Caitlin Clark led Iowa to a commanding 101-85 victory over Illinois, securing her 16th career triple-double. The game marked a remarkable milestone for Clark, who received special recognition with a court decal at Iowa to commemorate her historic 3-pointer earlier in the month. This shot propelled her to become the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball.
During Iowa’s clash with Michigan on February 15, Clark sunk a remarkable deep 3-pointer from the left wing, surpassing Kelsey Plum’s scoring record. Ahead of the Illinois matchup, the spot where Clark made this memorable shot was adorned with a “Clark 22” marker on the court.
This picture 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ThGvckus9R
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) February 25, 2024
Reflecting on the tribute, Caitlin Clark expressed her gratitude, saying, “I didn’t see it until I came out to warm up. I knew because Coach [Lisa] Bluder had told me about it. It’s cool. Honestly, it seems a bit further back than where I shot it from, but that’s where they claim I shot it from. It’s super special; that’s something I’ll always remember and a shot I’ll always remember. I’m thankful for this university and the athletic department that wanted to do that; they didn’t have to do that.”
Clark’s impressive tally of 16 triple-doubles places her second only to Sabrina Ionescu in the all-time NCAA record books, spanning both men’s and women’s basketball. Remarkably, the Hawkeyes have never suffered defeat when Clark achieves a triple-double. Ionescu, now a standout player for the New York Liberty, notched 26 triple-doubles during her collegiate tenure with Oregon.
In terms of scoring, Clark has amassed a total of 3,617 career points. She now sets her sights on Pete Maravich’s NCAA scoring record of 3,667 points, which spans both men’s and women’s basketball. With just 51 points needed to surpass Maravich, Clark is poised to achieve this milestone before the conclusion of the regular season.
Looking ahead, Iowa’s next fixture is against Minnesota on Wednesday, followed by the final Big Ten regular-season showdown at home against Ohio State on Sunday.
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