Caitlin Clark scores 44 points in Iowa’s 80-76 win vs. Virginia Tech in Charlotte
Caitlin Clark walked away from the free-throw line and waved her hands in a shooting motion.
The Iowa women’s basketball star’s pair of late foul shots in the Hawkeyes’ 80-76 win over Virginia Tech may not be considered among her highlights Thursday night at Spectrum Center. Clark, the reigning national player of the year, played all 40 minutes and led all scorers with 44 points.
She made five 3-pointers and was tough to stop in the paint. Virginia Tech battled Iowa throughout all four quarters, flipping the lead 11 times throughout the contest. But in the end, Iowa and Clark — who also recorded eight rebounds — were just a little bit better.
“In the fourth quarter, it got exciting,” Clark told reporters postgame. “We were trading threes, and it felt like that’s what both teams were about. Really great offense.”
Clark drew 16 fouls in Thursday’s contest and went 13-for-17 at the free throw line. She got back to the charity stripe with five seconds left and Iowa clinging to a one-possession lead after Hokies senior Georgia Amoore nailed her seventh 3-pointer of the night. Clark missed the first but converted the second, putting the game out of reach.
As Clark high-fived her teammates at center court as the final buzzer sounded, the announced crowd of 15,196 continued cheering.
“It’s what you dream of when you come into college,” Amoore said about the atmosphere, which Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks said rivaled last year’s Final Four. “Being a woman in sports, we’ve been in gyms that have had not many people. We’ve been in gyms that haven’t had the best facilities. To be put on spotlight in an NBA arena with a great opponent — that’s just what you can dream about.”
The two teams are among the best in the nation and neither side could gain much of an edge until the final moments. After Iowa jumped out to a 13-4 lead to start the game, Virginia Tech closed the first quarter scoring 14 of the next 16. The Hokies capped that run with Amoore nailing a half-court heave at the buzzer.
The game couldn’t have been much closer once the first half came to an end. Clark led Iowa, leading by a point, with 18 points, while Amoore’s 18 first-half points matched her.
“This had, very much, feelings of postseason play,” said Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder. “Without a doubt. Playing in this arena, having a great crowd, it definitely felt like postseason play out there.”
With the contest still within reach for Virginia Tech roughly midway through the fourth quarter, Clark nailed an open 3-pointer. The Hokies’ offense hustled up the court, only for Clark to corral the rebound, and an and-one from guard Kate Martin punctuated an 8-0 run.
Virginia Tech was quick to respond.
Amoore and Carleigh Wenzel knocked down 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions. The Hokies’ defense was strong, and Amoore nailed another long-range jumper with about a minute left to pull to within four.
Sophomore Hannah Stuelke (12 points) and graduate student Martin (10 points) also scored in double-figures for the Hawkeyes. Junior Sydney Affolter, off the bench, grabbed 14 rebounds.
Both sides’ players and coaches held their heads high in the postgame press conference. It was a battle, and a showcase of two of college basketball’s best teams.
“It seems like there’s just a lot of people who are fans of our game — whether they’re Iowa fans, Virginia Tech fans or just people that are here to support women’s basketball,” Clark said. “Crowds like this should become normal for women’s basketball.”
This story was originally published November 9, 2023 at 11:54 PM with the headline "Caitlin Clark scores 44 points in Iowa’s 80-76 win vs. Virginia Tech in Charlotte."