Caitlin Clark records a season-high 45 points in No. 2 Iowa women’s basketball’s overtime defeat to No. 18 Ohio State. Despite the outstanding performance by Clark, Iowa succumbed to a 100-92 loss at The Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.In the face of foul trouble for several Iowa starters, Clark emerged as the standout player, securing 45 points and contributing three rebounds. Molly Davis and Hannah Stuelke followed as Iowa’s next leading scorers with 14 and 10 points, respectively.The Buckeyes, riding a four-game win streak and boasting the third-best record in the Big Ten at 14-3, were led by All-Big Ten guard Jacy Sheldon, who averages 17.2 points and 2.2 steals per game.Stuelke, returning to the starting lineup after a lingering injury, made an impact early in the game, scoring the first three points for Iowa.
The first quarter remained closely contested, with Iowa leading 26-24.The second quarter featured a back-and-forth exchange, with Rikki Harris of the Buckeyes matching Caitlin Clark’s three-pointers. Despite Iowa leading 45-43 at halftime, Ohio State’s Taylor Thierry opened the second quarter with a three-pointer, and Clark continued to showcase her skills, assisting Martin for a layup.
Ohio State’s coach, Kevin McGuff, called a timeout after a three-point shot by Martin, who accumulated eight points but was subbed out due to three fouls. Despite Sheldon’s impactful plays, including drawing a charge on Martin, Iowa maintained a narrow lead heading into halftime.
The third quarter started with a three-pointer from Clark, but the game stalled, and both teams committed seven turnovers and 11 fouls. The Buckeyes eventually secured the victory in overtime, despite Clark’s remarkable individual performance.
