Iowa outlasts Virginia Tech in high-profile 80-76 win
By: Dargan Southard, Des Moines Register
CHARLOTTE — The Iowa women’s basketball team leaned on its superstar as Caitlin Clark powered her way through an off shooting night to secure an 80-76 win over No. 5 Virginia Tech on Thursday.
Despite struggling to find her usual rhythm, Clark delivered a 44-point performance that impressed both supporters and opponents.
“Sometimes you’re playing checkers, and she’s playing chess,” Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks said. “She’s that good.”
While the Hawkeyes found themselves grounded during the game in Spectrum Center and struggling with their shooting, Clark eventually unlocked a victorious route with tough drives and smart passing until the treys eventually came.
Additionally, Sydney Affolter played a huge role in the victory despite scoring just two points. The 5-foot-11 junior pulled down 14 rebounds in just shy of 26 minutes—a crucial performance given the team’s size disadvantage.
Despite missing 14 of its 15 attempts from 3-point range in the first half, Iowa managed to turn the game around in the second half with a much-improved shooting performance.
“I feel like this is a really good early-season win for us,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “We shot the ball so poorly, which is so uncharacteristic of us. But we got to the free throw line, and we did a good job on the boards.”
Clark’s standout performance in the game showcased her ability to adapt and power through an off night, proving that she has what it takes to lead the Hawkeyes to victory even when things aren’t going their way.
The Hawkeyes knew that this experience would be crucial for their much-anticipated campaign, and their ability to gut through an up-and-down offensive night was a testament to their determination and talent.
“This very much had feelings of postseason play,” Bluder said. “Without a doubt. Playing in this arena, having a great crowd.”
The win against Virginia Tech sets an early convincing tone about where this team can go, and it showed that the Hawkeyes have what it takes to succeed even when faced with obstacles.
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.