Caitlin Clark scored 32 points while breaking the single-season NCAA scoring record as Iowa survived a scare from West Virginia with a 64-54 win in the second round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes closed the game on a 12-2 run to secure the victory.
Clark made history in the final home game of her collegiate career. She needed 29 points to surpass Kelsey Plum, who scored 1,109 points during her senior season with Washington during the 2016-17 campaign.
With 21.3 seconds remaining, Clark set the record by knocking down a free throw. She made three more free throws in the closing seconds to give her 1,113 points for the season.
The score was even at 52-52 after Quinerly made a layup with 2:58 remaining. Gabbie Marshall blocked a JJ Quinerly shot with 2:12 left, and Sydney Affolter drove to the rim and made a left-handed layup to put Iowa on top 54-52 with 2:03 remaining.
Hannah Stuelke made it 55-52 after making 1 of 2 free throws with 1:07 left. Clark tied Plum’s single-season record with a pair of free throws with 45.2 seconds to go. Stuelke followed with two more free throws to make it 60-52 with 34 seconds remaining.
Tirzah Moore scored West Virginia’s final basket to pull within the visitors within 60-54 with 23 seconds to go. Clark followed with four more free throws to break Plum’s record and secure the win.
JJ Quinerly scored 15 points to lead West Virginia (25-8). Kyah Watson added 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
The top seed Iowa Hawkeyes advance to play Number 5 seed Colorado in the Sweet 16 on Saturday in a Region 2 semifinal at Albany, N.Y.
