IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa got exactly what they wanted on Sunday, defeating Clarke University 122-49 in the final showdown. The Hawkeyes and Pride went back and forth through the first five minutes, tied at 10. Then Iowa showed why they were the nation’s runners-up last season.
Led by Player of the Year Caitlin Clark, Iowa ended the half on a 52-8 run. The Hawkeyes committed only one turnover in the first 20 minutes, receiving 14 points from 10 Clarke turnovers. Iowa had a clear size advantage and was patient yet uptempo with their game. Sometimes they miss a good shot to create a created shot that great offenses do.
Iowa’s defense would take a step back in the second half. The Pride scored 15 points in the third quarter and got some decent looks. After the first 2:30, Iowa shut them down and they started getting to the rim early and often. ‌
The Hawkeye brings a lot of experience, but still welcomes new pieces and adds a few more. Exhibitions are a great way to mix and match the lineup and give some of the younger players more exposure. Kylie Feuerbach hit a triple at Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the first time in over a year. He missed all of last season with a torn ACL. Point guard Sharon Goodman had 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes of play. Hannah Stuelke:
The Sixth Player of the Year showed why Sheand#039 is a popular exit candidate in season two. The 6-foot-2 forward exploded from the opening end. The experienced forward scored 20 first-half points, but more importantly, he hit a three-pointer and made all three of his free throws. Stuelke hit just one 3-pointer last year, and if that becomes more of his game, Shendi will be even harder to contain.
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Stuelke finished the night with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Stuelkeand’s controlled recklessness is a tough defense for anyone in the country. The next step is his consistency.
Caitlin Clark:
I mean – who else would that be? Sheand#039; is a popular choice as the season progresses. Clark is the reason Iowa’s offense is passing. Everything goes through him and it really doesn’t matter who knows it. Clark tried to get his teammates involved early, but also wanted to show Clarke that he could get to the rim at any time.
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Clark used a variety of behind-the-back dribbles, spin moves and smart follow-up work to adjust the buckets. Of course, he wasn’t afraid to let it fly from the logo either. Clark scored 24 points, four rebounds and nine assists in the game. Molly Davis:
In his second year, Davis looks much more comfortable in his role. He showed his talent early. In the first two minutes, he made a pair of free throws, forced a jumper, found a layup from the running Sydney Affolter, hit a three and a layup to end the first quarter.
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Davis looked comfortable on the ball, but also had a better understanding of the offense. He played just 18 minutes and had nine points, four rebounds and four assists. His game speed was much sharper than his first year as a Hawkeye.
Game Status:
The Hawkeyes committed just one turnover in the first half. 10 of Iowa’s 12 players scored in the first half. They also went 52-8 in the final 16-14 first half.
The Hawkeyes are officially starting their season. They host Fairleigh Dickinson in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa enters the season ranked #3 and that will be their only easy game before traveling to #8 Virginia Tech.
Fran McCaffery on the depth of this Iowa team he saw scoring and quot;andgt;
Iowa basketball had a quick fall on the recruiting trail.
The Hawkeyes hosted a number of official visitors in the 2024 and 2025 classes over the past month, and also hosted their fair share of 2026 prospects.
It’s an easy visit weekend for the Iowa staff, and the Hawkeyes are gearing up for the 2023-24 season with a secret scrimmage against Wichita State this Sunday in Omaha. Here are three thoughts on the current state of Iowa basketball recruiting.
