Caitlin Clark recovers after rough first half, leads Iowa to Big Ten championship in thrilling OT win over Nebraska

MINNEAPOLIS — It would not inspire sonnets. It would not be framed in the Louvre.

Caitlin Clark missed her first nine 3-pointers. She scored a season-low four first-half points. She committed seven turnovers. She missed an overtime free throw. She threw her hands in the air after each failure, shifting blame from the rim to the refs to the basketball gods. She punched a chair, then slammed another.

Then, she completed one of her greatest days at Iowa.

Leading the No. 2 Hawkeyes back from a 13-point deficit — and an eight-point margin in the final two minutes of regulation — Clark recovered to finish with 34 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and a series of clutch moments to give Iowa its third straight Big Ten Tournament title in a 94-89 overtime win over No. 5 Nebraska at the sold-out Target Center.

With the three-peat, Iowa (29-4) almost certainly secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1992.

Clark became the second player in league history to be named Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten Tournament three times.

In the 18 years prior to Clark’s arrival, the Hawkeyes won one Big Ten Tournament.

Playing her third game in less than 48 hours, Clark showed no fatigue, but unrelenting frustration, missing her first six shots.

Clark’s unsung supporting cast — namely, Hannah Stuelke (25 points, nine rebounds) and Sydney Affolter (11 points, 11 rebounds) — kept it close until the ice thawed. 

Trailing 46-35 at the break — Iowa’s third halftime deficit of the season —  Clark hit her first two shots of the second half, including her first 3- pointer. She scored 14 third-quarter points, putting the Hawkeyes in front for the first time since the opening minutes.

Then, Clark went quiet, as Nebraska (22-11) claimed an eight-point lead with less than two minutes remaining.

A Clark 3-pointer cut it to five. Clark’s drive-and-dish for a Kate Martin corner 3 made it two with 1:02 to play. Clark then tied the game on a drive with 29.3 left. 

When Nebraska’s game-winning attempt at the buzzer sailed wide, Clark stomped down the court and screamed to the crowd:

“Come on! Five f–king minutes.”

With Nebraska holding a one-point lead, Clark drilled a stepback 3-pointer with 51.3 seconds remaining. On the next possession, Clark intercepted a pass, then sank two free throws.

On the final play, she stole another pass, dribbled out the clock and threw the ball into the stands. She ran to midcourt and hugged her teammates, as confetti fell from above.

It was the afternoon she envisioned.