In a thrilling display of resilience, the Iowa Hawkeyes clinched their third consecutive victory in the Big Ten Women’s Tournament, securing a dramatic overtime win against Nebraska with a final score of 94-89. The championship game unfolded as a tale of perseverance, highlighted by Iowa’s star player Caitlin Clark, who transformed a slow start into a remarkable performance, tallying 34 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds, and three steals.
Despite Nebraska’s initial dominance, spearheaded by Natalie Potts and Alexis Markowski’s combined 44 points, Iowa staged a remarkable comeback in the final minutes of regulation. Clark’s pivotal contributions fueled a 10-2 run for the Hawkeyes, propelling them into overtime. During the extra period, Kate Martin emerged as a key player, sinking critical three-pointers to secure Iowa’s victory over a determined Nebraska squad vying for its first tournament title since 2014.
Iowa’s journey to the championship was paved with standout performances, notably Clark’s exceptional showing in the semifinals against Michigan, where she etched her name in NCAA history by becoming the first women’s Division I player to surpass 1,000 points in two separate seasons. Additionally, Clark recently achieved a milestone by surpassing Pete Maravich as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history, underscoring her unparalleled talent and impact on the court.
Below is a comprehensive summary of the tournament’s results:
First Round – Wednesday, March 6:
- Game 1: No. 12 Purdue defeated No. 13 Northwestern (78-72)
- Game 2: No. 11 Minnesota defeated No. 14 Rutgers (77-69)
Second Round – Thursday, March 7:
- Game 3: No. 8 Maryland defeated No. 9 Illinois (75-65)
- Game 4: No. 5 Nebraska defeated No. 12 Purdue (64-56)
- Game 5: No. 7 Penn State defeated No. 10 Wisconsin (80-56)
- Game 6: No. 6 Michigan defeated No. 11 Minnesota (76-57)
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 8:
- Game 7: No. 8 Maryland defeated No. 1 Ohio State (82-61)
- Game 8: No. 5 Nebraska defeated No. 4 Michigan State (73-61)
- Game 9: No. 2 Iowa defeated No. 7 Penn State (95-62)
- Game 10: No. 6 Michigan defeated No. 3 Indiana (69-56)
Semifinals – Saturday, March 9:
- Game 11: No. 5 Nebraska defeated No. 8 Maryland (78-68)
- Game 12: No. 2 Iowa defeated Michigan (95-68)
Big Ten Women’s Championship – Sunday, March 10:
- Game 13: No. 2 Iowa defeated No. 5 Nebraska (94-89) – Overtime
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