Clark Sparks No. 3 Iowa’s Comeback For Big Ten Tourney Title 3-peat In 94-89 OT Win Over Nebraska

MINNEAPOLIS: Caitlin Clark overcame a chilly begin to rating 30 of her 34 factors after halftime and assist third-ranked Iowa rally previous Nebraska 94-89 in extra time to win a 3rd straight Big Ten Tournament on Sunday.

Hannah Stuelke had 25 factors and 9 rebounds for the Hawkeyes (29-4), who trailed by 13 factors late within the first half whereas their celebrity Clark missed all 9 of her 3-point makes an attempt.

The all-time NCAA main scorer completed 5 for 17 from deep, had 12 assists and hit the dagger 3-pointer with 51 seconds left in OT for an 89-97 lead simply 16 seconds after Logan Nissley’s 3-pointer had put the Cornhuskers in entrance.

Alexis Markowski had 23 factors and 13 rebounds to guide Nebraska (22-11) in a valiant efficiency that fell wanting a second victory over Iowa this season. The Huskers beat the Hawkeyes 82-79 on Feb. 11.

Natalie Potts had 21 factors and 9 rebounds for the Huskers, who led 75-67 with 2 1/2 minutes to go in regulation, earlier than Clark drained certainly one of her signature step-back 3-pointers. Her layup in site visitors tied the sport with 29 seconds left.

Nebraska performed for the ultimate shot, and Nissley’s baseline jumper was brief on the regulation buzzer. Clark waved her arms on the Iowa-dominated sellout crowd, yelling “Come on! Five more minutes!”

The Huskers performed their fourth recreation in 4 days, beating Purdue, Michigan State and Maryland to achieve the convention closing for the primary time in 10 years. Despite the 11 a.m. Central tipoff and the misplaced hour for the daylight saving time change, they positive didn’t lack for vitality.

These regional rivals — one fan clutched a intelligent signal that learn, “Iowa has better corn!” — from the convention’s soon-to-be-stretched-way-out western edge performed a rugged and fierce recreation befitting their grind-it-out matchups on the soccer discipline. Bodies banged arduous towards the ground typically, and the pushing for place across the basket was intense.

Markowski and Potts, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award winner, performed fearlessly inside after Iowa commanded a 54-16 points-in-the-paint benefit on Michigan the day earlier than. Clark principally discovered her regular playable appears to be like on the hoop, however the lengthy ball simply wasn’t her good friend. The Hawkeyes matched each little bit of the Huskers’ hearth, although, and made positive they stayed inside placing vary by getting the ball to the basket as a lot as they might and locking down on protection.

Clark instantly bit into Nebraska’s 46-35 halftime lead by hitting a step-back jumper from the foul line. Her first deep shot lastly fell when she drifted proper off the break and swished a pullup from the wing to convey Iowa inside 48-42, and he or she pumped her fist with a slight smile on the way in which again.

Curling off excessive screens was a recipe for achievement. Clark gave the Hawkeyes their first lead since 5-4 when she did simply that off a move from Kate Martin and easily drove in for a layup that made it 53-52.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)