Clark at the buzzer! Hawkeyes star hits deep game-winning 3 against Spartans
Standing on the beak of the Tigerhawk logo at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Caitlin Clark delivered another epic moment.
She drilled a 3-pointer to lift No. 4 Iowa over Michigan State 76-73 in a thriller. Clark had 40 points in the team's win as Iowa improved to 14-1 on the season and remains undefeated in Big Ten conference play.
Clark got the shot out of her hand before time expired, and after replay review, officials determined the shot was good, sending Carver-Hawkeye Arena into a frenzy.
Iowa returns to action on Jan. 5 when the Hawkeyes travel to Rutgers. that's a 5 p.m. tip on the Big Ten Network.
Video above: Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark signs with Gatorade
Michigan State (11-3, 1-2) had tied the game at 73 on DeeDee Hagemann’s layup with 22 seconds left. After a timeout, the Hawkeyes worked the clock down. Stuelke fumbled the ball momentarily, but recovered to get the ball to Clark for the winning shot.
Clark had 19 of Iowa’s first 33 points, but went from the six-minute mark of the second quarter to the 1:32 mark of the third without a point as the Spartans built a six-point lead with 2:23 left in the third quarter. She then scored eight points in the span of 70 seconds, and the teams were tied at 55 at the end of the quarter.
Michigan State opened the game with an 8-0 run that was answered by Iowa’s 14-0 run. The Hawkeyes built a 10-point lead late in the first quarter, but their offense struggled after that. Iowa shot just 25% in the second quarter, and the Spartans closed the half with a 9-0 run to lead 37-35.
Julia Ayrault had 16 points for the Spartans. Hagemann had 14 points. Moira Joiner and Tory Ozment each had 10 points.
BIG PICTURE
Michigan State: The Spartans, who came into the game on a four-game winning streak, kept pace with the Hawkeyes on their home court, a good sign for a team under first-year coach Robyn Fralick.
Iowa: The Hawkeyes struggled from the field midway through the game — the 10-point second quarter was their lowest output in a quarter this season. But Clark recovered from the scoreless stretch and delivered big shots down the stretch.
UP NEXT
Michigan State: Hosts Maryland next Tuesday
Iowa: At Rutgers on Friday
Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.