MINNEAPOLIS — The second-seeded and third-ranked University of Iowa women’s basketball team defeated No. 7 seed Penn State, 95-62, inside a sold-out Target Center on Friday night to advance to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals for the fourth consecutive season. Five Hawkeyes finished in double digits, with All-American Caitlin Clark having the game-high 24 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Eight of Clark’s 10 first-half points came at the charity stripe. Sydney Affolter finished with a career-high 18 points, going 3-of-4 from beyond the 3-point line. Gabbie Marshall contributed 15 points, going 4-of-7 from the long distance. Kate Martin finished with a near-double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Taylor McCabe netted all 12 of her points in the second half via the 3-ball, going 4-of-8 from 3-point territory.

The second-seeded Hawkeyes advanced to face Michigan.today at 3:30-p.m. Listen for the pregame at 3:15 on KJAN.

After missing her first 11 3-point attempts of the game, Clark finally got one to drop, her 163rd of her decorated career to surpass Stephen Curry for the most 3-point field goals made in a single season (Division I – men or woman). Martin made a three in the first 10 seconds of the game to spark a 10-0 spurt for the Hawkeyes. Affolter, Martin, Marshall, and Feuerbach all made threes in the first, and Affolter led the quarter with eight points.

The Lady Lions left the Hawkeyes scoreless in the first five minutes of the second quarter. Clark ended the drought with a step-back jumper. The Hawkeyes kept the momentum going with a 13-2 run to close out the last 3:52 of the half. It was a back-and-forth battle in the third with Penn State outscoring Iowa 22-19. Taylor McCabe made back-to-back triples in the midst of the third quarter to extend the Hawkeye lead to 19.

Clark scored 11 points in the fourth period. The Hawkeyes take advantage of their trips to the free-throw line, making 26-of-30 (.867) to seal the deal and give Iowa its second win over Penn State this season. The Hawkeyes (15-of-44) made eight more triples than the Lady Lions (7-of-33). The 44 attempts from behind the 3-point line is a new school record besting 40 attempts against Maryland in the same building last season at the Big Ten Tournament.

POSTGAME NOTES

– 2-Seed Iowa (27-4) dropped 7-Seed Penn State (19-12), 95-62, inside a sold-out Target Center on Friday afternoon in the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

– National Player of the Year candidate, Caitlin Clark, surpassed Steph Curry’s NCAA men’s single season 3-pointers made record. (162)

– Clark finished with 24 points (10-11 FT), 10 rebounds, and seven assists.

– It was her 62nd career double-double and she is now fourth on the Big Ten’s all-time list.

– Sydney Affolter netted a career-high with 18 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

– Iowa has won its last 10 against PSU dating back to 2018.

– Iowa has won its opening round game of the BTT in four consecutive seasons.

– Iowa has advanced to the Semifinals of the BTT in four straight years.

– Iowa has won its first game in the BTT in five out of the last six seasons.

– It was the first time in Big Ten women’s basketball Tournament history it has sold out all sessions.

– Gabbie Marshall is now sixth on Iowa’s all-time list for steals.

– Marshall is 12-of-21 in her last three games from 3-point range.

– Marshall has recorded three straight games with four three-pointers.

– Kate Martin finished just shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

– Among active players who didn’t transfer, Marshall (122) and Martin (119) are third and fourth nationally for most active wins in a career.

– Clark leads the country in 20+ point games this season with 31.

– Clark is the only player in the country with 900+ points, 225+ assists, and 175+ rebounds this season.

– Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Iowa leads the nation with 102 games of 80+ points.

– UI has scored 80 or more points 25 times this season.

– Iowa leads the Big Ten with 22 games of 90+ points this season.

– The country’s best offense has recorded 90+ points in 11 out of the last 13 games.

– Clark has scored 20+ points in 116-of-131 career games which is the most in program history.

– Clark kept her streak alive of 88 consecutive games making a 3-point basket. (NCAA best)

– Clark is the first Division-I men’s or women’s player to record 3,700+ points, 1,000+ assists, and 850+ rebounds in a career.

ST. LOUIS — (via https://godrakebulldogs.com/sports/mens-basketball) Junior swingman Tucker DeVries, the reigning two-time Larry Bird Player of the Year, scored 19 points including 14 in the first half, keying No. 2 seed Drake to a 79-58 victory past No. 10 seed Evansville in the quarterfinal round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Friday at the Enterprise Center. The Bulldogs advanced to the semifinal round for the 11th time, including the sixth straight year under coach Darrian DeVries. It also marked the fourth straight year the No. 2 seed has advanced to the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament.

Drake, earning its third straight win, improved to 26-6 overall, marking the second straight season the Bulldogs have won at least 26 games and fifth time in program history (1968-69, 26-5; 2007-08, 28-5; 2020-21, 26-5; 2022-23, 27-8; 2023-24, 26-6).  Clinging to a 21-18 lead, Drake closed out the first half with a 22-4 run holding the Aces to just one basket (on nine shots) in the final 8:09 of play to enter intermission with a 43-22 cushion.

Drake outrebounded Evansville, 37-31, improving to 16-1 when out-rebounding opponents this season. Owning a 43-22 halftime lead, Drake enjoyed its 14th double-digit halftime lead of the season, while scoring 40 or more points in the first half for the 14th time this season. Drake also improved to 20-1 when leading at the half and 114-14 during the Darian DeVries coaching era.

DeVries also led the Bulldogs with six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Guard Atin Wright, who led the Bulldogs in their last outing at Evansville with a season-high 26 points, scored 12 points. Reserve Kyron Gibson added 10 points. DeVries moved into No. 3 on the Drake school single-season scoring list at 676 points, passing Red Murrell who scored 668 in 1957-58. DeVries made all six free throws extending his consecutive free throw made string to 16 while pushing his career total to 344 made, moving past Willie Cerf (1953-56, 339) into No. 6 on the Drake career free throw made list.

Evansville closed the season with a 16-17 overall record. Forward Yacine Toumi just missed posting his third double-double of the season while leading the Purple Aces with 14 points and nine rebounds. Guard Kenny Strawbridge added nine points for the Purple Aces. Evansville senior Ben Humrichous was limited to six points one day after registering his first double-double of the season against Illinois State (15 points, 11 rebounds).

Drake earned its 11th straight win against Evansville, improving its lead in the series to 34-28.

NOTES

• The No. 2 seed has advanced to the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament the past four straight years.
• Drake advances to the semifinal round for the 11th time including the sixth straight year (all under coach Darian DeVries).
• Clinging to a 21-18 lead, Drake closed out first half with  22-4 run holding the Aces to just one basket (9 shots) in the last 8 minutes 9 seconds.
• This was Evansville’s lowest scoring first half since scoring 20 points in the first meeting in Des Moines.
• Drake is 20-1 when leading at half.
• This was Drake’s 14th double-digit halftime lead of the season and also the 14th time Drake has scored 40 or more points in the first half this season.
• DeVries had a game high six assists, marking ninth time he has dished out five-plus assists in a contest this season
• Drake, earning its third straight win, improved to 26-6 overall, marking the second straight season the Bulldogs have won at least 26 games and fifth time in program history. 1968-69, 26-5; 2007-08, 28-5; 2020-21,26-5;  2022-23, 27-8; 2023-24 26-6).
• Drake pushed its MVC Tournament record to 27-43, while advancing to the semifinal round for the 11th time including the sixth straight year (all under coach Darian DeVries).
• Drake has a 3-1 MVC Tournament record against Evansville. Head coach Darian DeVries improved his MVC Tournament record to 11-4.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The University of Iowa softball team swept a doubleheader against CSU Bakersfield and San Jose State University on Friday afternoon on day one of the Silicon Valley Classic.

The Hawkeyes took game one against the Roadrunners, in run-rule fashion, 17-1, before capping off the day with a, 3-2, win over the Spartans.

Junior Devyn Greer and sophomore Jalen Adams each picked up a win in the circle for Iowa.

Sophomore Tory Bennett and junior Rylie Moss each recorded five hits in the doubleheader. Bennett finished the day going 5-for-7 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Moss had a perfect day at the plate going 5-for-5 with one RBI and four runs scored.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes will return to action on Saturday Mar. 8 for day two of the Silicon Valley Classic with a doubleheader against Santa Clara. The games will be played at 2:30 and 5 p.m. CT at the Santa Clara Softball Stadium. Both games will be streamed on ESPN +. (subscription required)

AMES, Iowa – The University of Iowa gymnastics team defeated Iowa State, 196.450-196.175, in an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchup on Friday night inside Hilton Coliseum.

 Sophomore Karina Muñoz led the way for the GymHawks, securing a top-three finish in four of the five events. Muñoz landed on top in the all-around with a 39.450 and tied for first place on vault and beam.

 BARS

The GymHawks posted a team score of 48.975 in the first rotation, trailing closely behind the Cyclones. Sophomore Gianna Masella and freshman Eva Volpe led the rotation for the Hawkeyes, each adding a 9.850 to the board. The two tied second place in the apparatus and Volpe matched her season best score. Kaia Vanney and Karina Muñoz each registered a 9.725.

 VAULT

The Hawkeyes landed on top in the second rotation, recording a team score of 49.025 to bring the meet to a tie. Volpe stuck her landing to earn a 9.825. Another freshman, Alyse Karenbauer, added a 9.825. Muñoz also had a noteworthy vault performance, posting a 9.850, tying for the event title.

FLOOR

The GymHawks continued their surge and downed the Cyclones in the third rotation, earning a team score of 49.200. Three Hawkeyes — Karenbauer, Bailey Libby and Emily Erb  — had outstanding performances to each bring in a 9.850. Muñoz led the Hawkeyes in the apparatus with a 9.875 and tied for second overall in the event.

BEAM

In the final rotation, Iowa posted a 49.250 to clinch the event and secure the win overall. Two Hawkeyes — Ilka Juk and Muñoz — stuck near-perfect performances, bringing in a pair of 9.9s and each taking a share of the first-place title. Aubrey Nick added a 9.850 and Volpe a 9.775.

UP NEXT

The GymHawks will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, to compete at the Kidney Care Women’s Gymnastics Championships on Saturday, March 16. Action inside of the Nashville Municipal Auditorium will begin at 12:30 p.m. (CT).