The No. 3 Iowa Hawkeyes pulled off a huge upset on Saturday, defeating the No. 8 Virginia Tech Hokies in a neutral site game. Led by freshman phenom Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes were able to come away with the win behind her 44 points.
Clark, who was recently named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, was unstoppable in this game. She shot an incredible 14-of-20 from the field and went 8-of-10 from beyond the arc. Her 44 points set a new Big Ten Tournament record for most points scored by a freshman in a single game.
The Hawkeyes had a strong team effort in this game, with four other players scoring in double figures. Monika Czinano had 17 points and 10 rebounds, while McKenna Warnock added 13 points and 8 rebounds. Gabbie Marshall and Tomi Taiwo also chipped in with 11 and 10 points respectively.
The Hokies had a strong performance from Aisha Sheppard, who scored 25 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Dara Mabrey also added 16 points and 5 assists.
The win was a huge boost for the Hawkeyes, who are now in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. They will face either Maryland or Northwestern on Sunday. If they can pull off another upset, they could be looking at a Big Ten Tournament Championship.
Caitlin Clark’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, and it’s clear that she is one of the best players in the country. Her 44 points were a huge part of Iowa’s victory, and she will be a key player if they want to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
