Iowa City — A lopsided matchup like Monday’s could only be a noteworthy end if something goes wrong, with Kaitlyn Clarke going off the floor to the locker room early in the first half. In the midst of a choppy season opener, frustration poured in from Iowa’s women’s basketball star.
But everyone took a breather and returned basketball normalcy to the Carver Hawkeye Arena.
Clark eventually returned to the game with no apparent problems, scoring 20 points to push No. 6 Iowa up the Southerns 87–34, and a cruise control victory 10 minutes into the game. Lisa Bruder remains undefeated in the season opener in Iowa (1-0).
After an uneven 15-point first quarter, Southern held Iowa under-20, shockingly three straight quarters stretching back to last season. match — Hawkeye firmly grasped the controls.
Clark, who also dealt with a bloody delay early on, snapped Iowa’s 0-for-9 start with back-to-back trays from deep to start the second quarter. And with Bruder’s offense off and halftime approaching, he ran out five of his 3-pointers in six minutes to give the Hawkeyes a 25-point advantage.
The action from there was dabbling in everything. Behind Monica Chinano (10 points), the post-rotation of upfog grabs started with Addison O’Grady, Hannah Sturke, and Sharon Goodman returning to the court late in the first half. She and her Shateah Wetering went through the final stages of recovery from ACL surgery and wore larger knee braces.
O’Grady ejected a tray in the second quarter where the bench was bumped. Stuelke scored a second half extra run to finish with 10 points and used her versatility repeatedly to pose a threat on the outside before a tough basket went inside. Reserve guards Molly Davis, Sidney Affolter and Taylor McCabe ran the show late for valuable adjustment time.
The other end was as strong as Iowa could ask for, even against inferior foes. characterized by a strategic advantage and set a precedent for the rest of the action. Southern did not clear 28 points until 6 minutes into the game.
Monday’s matchup ticked just about every box in the season opener once Clarke’s illness proved to be less serious.
