Caitlin Clark, the sensational freshman guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered a jaw-dropping performance in her team's recent victory over the Maryland Terrapins. Scoring an astonishing 38 points, Clark showcased her exceptional skills and solidified her place as one of the most promising talents in women's college basketball.
From the opening tip-off, it was evident that Clark was determined to make a statement. Her relentless energy and unwavering focus propelled her to dominate every aspect of the game. Whether it was sinking three-pointers from beyond the arc or driving fearlessly to the basket, she seemed unstoppable.
Both fans and strangers of women's college basketball alike have been flocking to watch the 22-year-old University of Iowa student athlete's attempt to become the NCAA's all-time leading women's scorer.
"I feel like I'm watching a combination of Pistol Pete Maravich and Steph Curry. She's so fluid. She plays the game in a different dimension," said FOX Sports announcer Gus Johnson.
Clark, the Hawkeyes guard, has become a phenomenon — sparking long lines for her autograph, selling out arenas and skyrocketing the cost of tickets.
While Clark didn't score quite that many – she would have had 40 if not for a missed layup with 20 seconds left – she still wowed the crowd. In the first half, Clark had a logo 3 from the wing and later, drove the length of the court, beat a defender with a nifty behind-the-back dribble and then used a spin move on the same defender for an and-1 layup. She added a season-high 12 assists and six rebounds.
There was a brief scare in the second quarter when Clark got the wind knocked out of her while defending a Terrapin player in the paint. Bluder followed a team trainer and ran out onto the court to make sure the superstar was OK, and Clark sat on the bench for about a minute to catch her breath. At halftime, though, Clark smiled and told the broadcast, "I feel amazing," which certainly eased all of America's nerves.
“All last season, we had 10,000-plus at home, and then we go on the magical run (to the women’s NCAA title game) that we go on and we’re playing in front of sold-out crowds every single step of the way,” Clark says. “Yeah, it’s changed whether we are on the road or at home, there’s always huge crowds, but I think our team has just become just used to it. I mean, that’s the biggest thing, is like nobody shies away from these moments, whether you’re coming off the bench or you’re in the starting five, it’s just what you’re used to at this point and you don’t have much say in it, so you better embrace it.”
“And really, more than anything, it’s really good for women’s basketball so just enjoy every single moment.”
She walked off the court to cheers and her arms raised in appreciation.
Before it began, one fan lining up outside quipped out loud that half of Iowa was there. Another, Erin Pryce of Baltimore, admitted she bought season tickets just to go to this game.
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