Caitlin Clark has unparalleled speed on the court. The majority of her player profile is dominated by her gameplay and point-making abilities. Her sensational skills came into play in a recent Iowa encounter with Michigan State when her 3-pointer sealed the game.
Though it was a long way from the hoop, the Hawkeyes were still able to get her the ball in the closing seconds. However, as the buzzer rang, Clark accepted Hannah Stuelke’s pass and made a 30-foot shot. But it was not the first time for Caitlin Clark to hit the buzzer-beater or score 40 points.
Caitlin Clark’s 40-pointer game
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Caitlin Clark has achieved several remarkable feats throughout her career. She has recorded an impressive 45 30-point games, which is the highest by any Division I player in the past 25 years. Out of these 45 games, eight of them have come in the current season. Additionally, she has also recorded 13 triple-doubles, which is the second-most in Division I history, with only Sabrina Ionescu (26 triple-doubles) ahead of her. This season, she has already recorded two triple-doubles so far.
Clark’s record also includes ten 40-point games, which is the highest by any Division I player in the past 25 years. Three of these 40-point games have come in the current season. She has also become only the second Division I women’s player in the past 25 years to score 40 points and shoot a game-winning buzzer-beater in the same game. Furthermore, she has scored at least 35 points in four consecutive games, which is a record for any Division I women’s player in the past 25 years.
Clark’s accomplishments don’t stop there. She has also become the first Division I player to have 3,000 points, 750 rebounds, and 750 assists. Moreover, she has led Division I in assists per game in each of the last two seasons. With these achievements, Clark has undoubtedly established herself as one of the most talented and accomplished women’s basketball players in recent history.
The record-breaking journey
Caitlin Clark has taken the spotlight as the top scorer in women’s basketball this season. With her outstanding performance, she is well on her way to becoming the all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball history, aiming to break Kelsey Plum’s record of 3,527 points, which has stood since 2017.
Furthermore, it is quite remarkable to consider that she has the potential to surpass Pete Maravich’s 1970 scoring record of 3,667 points, a record that was set in an era when the 3-point line did not exist. The senior All-American who led Iowa to the national championship game in April would achieve a truly remarkable accomplishment.
Throughout the season, Clark has played 15 games and has maintained an impressive average of 31.5 points per game, a significant improvement from the 2,717 points she had at the start of the 2023–24 season. Given her consistent performance, as she has never averaged less than 26.6 per season, she will probably surpass Plum’s record by the end of February, provided she remains in good health. Clark, on the other hand, would undoubtedly break both records if she were to come back for a fifth year.
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A glimpse of Clark’s 2023–24 season
Did you know that in the history of the NCAA women’s tournament, only one player has managed to score consecutive 40-point performances? That player is Caitlin Clark, who achieved this feat during the Elite Eight victory against Louisville. In that game, she scored an incredible 41 points, dished out 12 assists, and pulled down 10 rebounds. Notably, this was her first 40-point triple-double and her eleventh career triple-double.
Clark’s outstanding performance did not stop there. In the Final Four game against South Carolina, she managed to score 41 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal in just 39 minutes, despite Iowa losing 77-73. It is worth mentioning that Iowa’s final four-run was greatly aided by Clark’s performance in these games.
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In the same matchup, she also scored a career-high 44 points, setting a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record. When asked about her accomplishment, Clark expressed her joy and attributed it to the team’s fluid play, unselfishness, and great shooting. Caitlin Clark’s performances in these games will always be remembered as some of the greatest moments in NCAA women’s tournament history.