Caitlin Clark credits Iowa teammates for stepping up vs. Penn State

Caitlin Clark has been a key part of Iowa’s success throughout her college career, but she wasn’t at her best in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday.

Clark was 5 of 19 from the field and 2 of 14 from 3-point range against Penn State. Luckily for the Hawkeyes, it didn’t matter as Iowa still cruised to a 95-62 victory.

Clark understandably credited her teammates following the big victory.

“Obviously, I didn’t shoot it too well from three, and that happens,” Caitlin Clark said. “I think I was 3-for-5 from two, so I probably could’ve taken a few less threes, but obviously, I had to make one before I left tonight. But I thought my teammates were tremendous.”

Outside of Clark, the Hawkeyes shot nearly 50 percent from the field.

Sydney Affolter scored 18 points while knocking down 3 of her 4 3-point attempts. Gabbie Marshall added 15, while Taylor McCabe and Kate Martin joined Clark in scoring in double figures.

Clark still found a way to get her points, but the key to the victory was that the other Hawkeyes scored, too.

Earlier in the season, Iowa might have lost with Clark struggling, but they didn’t on Friday. Clark believes a loss to Indiana last month was key to the turnaround for her squad.

“I think the Indiana game, especially, that’s really when we looked in the mirror and we were like, we’ve got find ways to succeed when teams are taking me away and making it hard,” Clark said. “I thought everybody really stepped up and answered.”

Up next, the Hawkeyes will face Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament. Clark feels good about where the Hawkeyes are entering the game after seeing the way her teammates played on Friday.

“Kate’s been great, Gabbie’s been tremendous over the last few games. Sydney never shies away from any competition. So I’m just proud of them,” Clark said. “They’re capable of doing it every night, and that’s exactly what they’ve been doing lately.”

Iowa is currently an 18.5-point favorite for Saturday’s game against Michigan, according to FanDuel. The over-under for the matchup is 160.5.

Even though the Hawkeyes are heavily favored, there have already been several upsets in the Big Ten Tournament this week. No. 8 seed Maryland beat No. 1 seed Ohio State on Friday. No. 5 seed Nebraska also beat No. 4 seed Michigan State. And No. 6 seed Michigan beat No. 3 seed Indiana.

In fact, Iowa was the only higher seeded to win in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

The Hawkeyes enter Saturday’s game with a 27-4 record, while the Wolverines are 20-12.