The Iowa Hawkeyes appear to have remembered their early exit from the NCAA tournament last year and needed to prevent history from repeating itself in the first round of this year’s tournament. They came out strong, confident and intent on causing damage in this tournament. They did just that with a 95-43 win over Southeastern Louisiana.
Not only did Iowa show up, but every single person in Carver-Hawkeye Arena showed up. The environment was electric and unlike few others in the sport.
Kudos to Southeastern Louisiana for fighting and hanging your hat on it. But at the end of the day, Iowa is at a different level in women’s basketball and flexed its muscles today. It was a team effort on offense and defense that involved a variety of players.
Here are five takeaways from the Hawkeyes’ dominant win in the first round of the NCAA tournament as they roll into the round of 32 next Sunday with a place in the Sweet 16.
No rest versus rust debate for the Hawkeyes
Syndication: The Des Moines Register
The Hawkeyes wasted no time picking up right where they left off offensively after their Big Ten title. Iowa blasted the field 10:16 (62.5%) in the first quarter to take a 28:17 lead.
Six Hawkeyes found the box score, led by Caitlin Clark’s 12 points. Monika Czinano, Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin, Hannah Stuelke and Molly Davis all got in on the action early to demonstrate the depth of the Hawkeyes.
Caitlin Clark wants it all
Syndication: The Des Moines Register
Caitlin Clark came out on fire in this film. At 9:05 in the second quarter, she had already accumulated 17 points. Back then, she would have been in a 17-19 game if she was against Southeastern Louisiana. At halftime, Clark had 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Caitlin Clark doesn’t just want to progress in this tournament. She wants to win, win big, make statements and lead this team to a late season run. A stat line of 26 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds in the opening round is just the beginning.
The story goes on
The Carver-Hawkeye Arena is electric
Syndication: HawkCentral
There aren’t many adjectives left to describe what Carver-Hawkeye Arena transforms into when this team takes the field. Today was maybe the best of all. The sold out crowd was loud and enjoying the show they got today.
Sunday will be another chance to show off and should get even louder with another sell off. The Iowa fans are loud and cheering for this team. Make sure these fans turn the Sweet 16 destination into a home away from home when they get the chance.
This is not a one woman band
Syndication: The Des Moines Register
This entire team played their part today and that bodes well for the rest of the tournament. Inevitably in an environment like this there has to be a game that needs a supporting member to step up, and today it proved Iowa can call on that when the need arises.
Caitlin Clark: 26 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds
Monika Czinano: 22 points, 8 rebounds
Hannah Stuelke: 13 points, 5 rebounds
Gabbie Marshall, McKenna Warnock, Molly Davis, Kate Martin: 20 points combined, 13 rebounds combined, 8 assists combined
No. 10 Georgia is between a spot in the Sweet 16
(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
In the early game, the No. 10 Georgia Bulldogs defeated No. 7 Florida State. Iowa meets them on the line with a berth in the Sweet 16 on Sunday.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena is sold out and will be raucous as the Hawkeyes advance in the NCAA tournament. Iowa takes the bottom seed in the round of 32 and happily takes them out. This is Iowa’s Sweet 16 spot to lose.
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Story originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire
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