Caitlin Clark addresses how she's handling looming NCAA scoring record
Caitlin Clark and Iowa struggled down the stretch against Nebraska on Sunday, before falling 82-79 in Lincoln. Clark entered the fourth quarter with 31 points but was held scoreless in the final period. She is now eight points shy of breaking the NCAA women’s basketball scoring record, which is held by Kelsey Plum.
If there’s a silver lining for Caitlin Clark and Iowa, it’s the fact that she should get to break the record at home.
The Hawkeyes host Michigan on Thursday, and Clark, who is averaging more than 32 points per game, could break the record in the first quarter. She currently needs eight points to 3,528 career points. Plum holds the record with 3,527.
Following Sunday’s loss, Clark was asked for her thoughts on getting close to breaking Plum’s record and if it has been a distraction.
“It’s not really on the front of my mind right now. I think just getting better and getting back home and playing in front of our fans and executing the way we know we can execute, I think, is very important for this team,” Caitlin Clark said.
“We’ll have two practices to get ready for that. Obviously it’ll be special, but I think the biggest focus right now is just finding ways to grow, finding ways to get better, because another case of us blowing another lead. That’s something that has to stop.”
Iowa led Nebraska 69-55 entering the fourth quarter, but the Hawkeyes were outscored 27-10 over the final 10 minutes.
Clark was 0-6 in the final period, although she did dish out a couple of assists.
“We could’ve executed a lot better,” Clark said. “Can’t get frazzled by them going to a box-and-one. We’ve seen it plenty of times. So yea, I think that’s just my main focus right now.”
As she hinted at, Nebraska put even more attention on Clark than normal late in the game and it paid off.
Clark wasn’t blaming anyone in particular after the game, but she was clearly frustrated and wants her team to play better down the stretch moving forward.
Clark should break the record later this week and can then turn her full attention to trying to get the Hawkeyes back to the Final 4.
“It has not been a distraction at all. It is what it is. It’s what comes with the territory. When it happens, it happens. It’s really not going to affect my life that much,” Clark said. “Just going to keep going about my business as I have for the past four years and pouring into my teammates every single day and hopefully leading this team to reach our goals, whether it’s Big Ten regular season title, Big Ten Tournament Championship or getting back to the Final 4. That’s where my focus lies.
“I’ve been doing this long enough, this is my fourth year, I understand you can’t get too caught up in one loss. Just buy into the girls and lifting them up, because all everybody needs right now is a boost of confidence and I know I can give it to them.”