Caitlin Clark now stands alone as the NCAA career scoring leader after dropping 49pts in her team’s 106-89 victory over Michigan Thursday night.
Needing only 8 points to break Kelsey Plum’s career record of 3,527 points, Clark wasted no time by scoring all 8 in the first 2 minutes and 12 seconds of the contest. When all was said and done, the 22 year old finished 16 of 31 from the field, and was 9 for 18 from beyond the arc. Clark also added 13 assists and 5 rebounds on the night.
“It’s cool. It’s cool to be in the same realm as a lot of really, really good players,” Clark told reporters at halftime. “I’m lucky to do it because I have really good teammates and really good coaches and a great support system that surrounds me.”
“Just grateful. Thankful to be surrounded by people and be in a city that supports women’s basketball so much,” Clark said. “Be surrounded by my best friends and people that want to see me be great and push me to be great every single day.”
Already the first NCAA Div 1 women’s player to score 3,000 career points, and dish out 1,000 assists, Clark now has a chance to re-write a few more records in what’s likely to be her final collegiate season.
The seldom discussed Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) women’s record for career points is held by Lynette Woodard who amassed 3,649 points between 1977 and 1981. Meanwhile the NCAA men’s record is 3,667 set by LSU’s Pete Maravich between 1967 and 1970. Both are within reach for the Iowa born sensation, who could wrap up her college career as one of the most dominant scorers of all time, male or female.
Last season Clark broke the record for scoring in a single NCAA tournament with 191 points while also registering the first 40-point triple-double in NCAA postseason history. A virtual lock to be taken 1st overall if she declares for the WNBA Draft after the season, the Hawkeye standout has helped push her sport to new levels of popularity, previously unseen until now.
Iowa is next in action on Thursday February 22nd against 14th ranked Indiana.
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