MINNEAPOLIS — The second-seeded and third-ranked University of Iowa women’s basketball team rallied to upend fifth-seeded Nebraska, 94-89, in overtime to become Big Ten Champions for the third consecutive season inside a sold-out Target Center on Sunday afternoon.
All-American Caitlin Clark (34) and Hannah Stuelke (25) combined for 59 points to lead the Hawkeyes. Clark, who netted 30 of her 34 points over the final 24 minutes, also had seven boards, three steals, and a game-high 12 assists, while Stuelke also grabbed nine rebounds. Sydney Affolter registered her third straight 10-point performance and second career double-double with 11 points and a team-best 11 rebounds.
Clark was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP for the third consecutive tournament. She is only second player since 1995 to earn MVP honors in three straight tournaments (Jantel Lavender, Ohio State).
There were 16 lead changes and four ties with the Hawkeyes leading for only 2:10 minute of the 45-minute championship contest.
Marshall opened the game with a three, starting an exchange of buckets between Iowa and Nebraska. The Huskers pulled away on a 9-0, and extended their lead to as large as 12 in the first quarter. An 8-0 Iowa run ending with a triple by Taylor McCabe brought the Hawkeyes within four. Nebraska ended the first period with a six-point advantage.
It was more of the same in the second quarter. The Hawkeyes and Huskers went back and forth keeping the lead within seven until Nebraska pulled away to go into halftime with an 11-point cushion.
The Hawkeyes inched their way back coming within five before the third-quarter media timeout and took a brief 53-52 lead with 2:12 to play in the third (the first lead since 8:26 in the first) with a drive to the basket by Clark. Going into the fourth, the score was tied 58-58.
Nebraska led by eight (75-67) with 2:30 left in regulation, but Iowa closed regulation on a 10-2 run to extend the game five extra minutes. The Hawkeyes made their final four field-goal attempts of regulation triples by Clark and Martin.
“Even being down eight with just over two minutes to play, we never gave up,” said Clark.
Iowa scored the first five points of overtime, but Nebraska answered scoring seven straight points to take a two-point lead with 2:30 remaining. Trailing by one with just under one minute to play, Clark hit a step-back triple to give the Hawkeyes a two-point lead, which they would not relinquish.
