Iowa upsets No. 4 USC, 76-69, on Day of Caitlin Clarks Jersey Retirement Ceremony

On By Littum

Losing at home the day Caitlin Clark’s jersey was withdrawn by Iowa Women’s Basketball program would have sent the fans in the Carver-Hawkeye Arena home on a closure. So Hawkeyes didn’t let it happen.

Iowa upset No. 4 USC, 76-69, Sunday afternoon in front of a sold-out audience that included Clark’s teammates Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall, former Hawkeyes coach Lisa Bluder, New Indiana Fever-coach Stephanie White and Legendary Late-Night TV host David Letterman.

The Trojans took their first loss in the Big Ten game and only their second total defeat of the season. The USC had won 15 consecutive matches that went into Sunday’s competition, with their only defeat that came to the then no. 6 Notre Dame on November 23rd.

Iowa took a 51-50 lead when the third quarter ended on a basket by Lucy Olsen. After Avery Howell hit a 3 to tie the scoring of 53-53, recovered Hawkeyes lead on another shot of Olsen and remained narrowly ahead until he opened a 69-60 margin with three minutes left in regulation.

Hawkeyes rose to an 18-4 lead in the first quarter, while the USC shot 0-for-13 from the floor until Juju Watkins hit a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left in the frame. But the Trojans corrected themselves in the second quarter and went on 19-2 races before half. Watkins Outscored Iowa by himself, 15-10, and USC led at the break, 29-28.

Olsen scored a game-high 28 points and shoots 10-for-18 from the floor with four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Addison O’Grady added 13 points, followed by Sydney Affolter’s 11 points, nine rebounds and five stealing.

Watkins ended with 27 points on 8-for-22 shooting to the Trojans. Kiki Iriafen added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Kennedy Smith spoke 11 points with four rebounds and four steals.

USC (19-2, 9-1) stays in the midwest of a game Wednesday against Wisconsin (11-11, 1-9), while Iowa (15-7, 5-6) travels to Minnesota (18-4, 6- 3) To a Thursday matchup.

After Iowa’s big victory, Clarks No. 22 jersey was retired by the program.

During its four seasons in Iowa City, Clark was an average of 28.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 8.2 assists and shoots 37% on 3-Pointers. She was a three-time Allamerican and served Naismith College Player of the Year, The Wooden Award and AP Player of the Year Honors twice.

“But just the journey we went on, I think that reflected back on my whole career, about the beginning when I didn’t play in front of anyone until the end, where we went to our second Final Four and Second National Championship Game and just how much Things not only changed for our program but how much things changed for women’s basketball. “

Clark completed his college career as NCAA’s leading scores with 3,951 points and led the nation to score and help three times.