Photo Credit UI Athletics
The Iowa Hawkeye women came out the gate strong during the Sweet 1 round of the NCAAW basketball tournament. Coloradoopened the board hitting one free throw but that basket both started and ended their lead for the entire game. Martin hits an early 3 for Iowa and put them in a 5-1 lead. The Clark-Stuelke duo was in full force with an early three assists from Clark to the inside in the first period alone causing Iowa fans to have flashbacks of the Clark-Czinano duo from years past. Clark also dished an assist to Affolter at 4:51 in the first putting the Hawks in a comfortable 15-7 lead. The Iowa women were hitting the field goals today shooting 56% in the first with all five starters on the board led by Clark with 6 points and Martin with 5. The first quarter ended 22-14 Iowa.
The Hawkeyes expanded their lead to 13 at the half as shots continued to fall for Iowa in the second quarter. Clark hit a whopping 15 points and 8 assists in the first half as she continued to drain shots. Stuelke ended the half with 11 and Affolter with 10 of her own. The second quarter saw Clark hit her first three and even drive the lane multiple times taking advantage of massive gaps in Colorado’s defense. Iowa ended the period in the bonus putting Stuelke to the line multiple times hitting where she hit 5 of 7 free throws for the half. Iowa lead at the half 48-35 shooting an impressive 61% to Colorado’s 34%. Iowa played a very controlled first half mainly in zone defense and shots falling from the outside as well as getting in the paint whenever an opening was presented. Iowa led in nearly every key stat except offensive rebounds and steals.
Iowa continued to put the pressure on Colorado in the third quarter by hitting field goals and Clark began to heat up on threes hitting two out of five (3 for 10 so far in the game). Iowa’s Marshall got Hawkeye fans on their feet with a steal on the first play followed shortly by a steal for Stuelke. Sydney Affolter continued to have an amazing game putting in another five points in the third. Clark had an impressive combo of back to back layups with a block in between showing why she is in the spotlight. While Feuerbach has yet to score, she drew a key offensive foul on Colorado’s Sherrod putting Sherrod at three fouls halfway through the quarter. With Clark warming up on three pointers, she had her arms in the air getting fans pumped up and back in the game. She also continued her assist streak dishing to Affolter who put in a layup. Affolter ended the period at 15 points for the game and hitting 6 for 6 on field goals. The third quarter ended 68-47 Iowa.
The fourth quarter was full of more Hawkeye domination as Marshall nailed 3 three pointers in a row (4 of 5 for the game). Colorado put in a multiple three pointers of their own but it was too little too late. Iowa continued their domination and cleared the bench at 2:32 in the fourth giving the entire team some tournament minutes. The game ended 87-68 with Clark getting 29 points, 15 assists and 5 rebounds. Marshall, Affolter, Martin and Stuelke were also in double digits with the team hitting 54%. The Hawkeyes move into the Elite 8 and will play Monday evening against LSU at 6pm central.
Tournament coverage sponsored by Muscatine Lumber.
