Iowa Women Survive Overtime for a Big Ten Three-Peat!

It was a first half of basketball that Caitlin Clark would love to forget. The same Nebraska defense that held her scoreless in the 4th quarter of a game in February, this time held Clark to just 4 points in the first half of the Big Ten Championship game. But Clark and Iowa's other super seniors would respond.

Iowa trailed by 11 at the half, but a furious 3rd quarter rally tied the game at 58 headed to the 4th quarter. Iowa then fell down by 8 points with just 2 and a half minutes remaining. It looked as if this would be the Cornhusker's day. But the Hawkeyes would rally again behind shots by Clark, Kate Martin, and some outstanding defense by Gabby Marshall. Iowa would force overtime. In OT, Caitlin Clark hit a three with 51 seconds to play and Iowa would never trail again, according to the Gazette. Iowa would go on to beat Nebraska 94-89 and win their 3rd straight Big Ten Tournament Title!

The Hawkeye three-peat completes a run of titles for Iowa. The Gazette reports that Bluder's Bunch has won 4 of the last six, and six tournament titles overall.

Caitlin Clark came out of her slump in the second half, scoring 30 of her 34 points in the third and fourth quarters, and the overtime period. Hannah Stuehlke was clutch in the paint scoring 25 points. Kate Martin added 13, and Sydney Affolter chipped in 11, according to the Gazette.

Affolter completed an amazing three-game run in the Big Ten Tournament. She was rewarded with a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Joining her was Caitlin Clark, Nebraska's Jaz Shelley and Alexis Markowski, and Michigan's Laila Phelia.

The game marked the end of Big Ten competition for Iowa's Caitlin Clark. She played in the tournament title game all four years, winning her last three. She and the Iowa women will now get a well-earned week off before learning their NCAA fate on Selection Sunday, March 17th. Iowa is projected to be a #1 seed and will host the first two rounds at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Congratulations Hawkeyes! Now let's make another run to the Final Four!

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Gallery Credit: Brian Budzynski