Clark predicted earlier this year that the soft-spoken sophomore would break all of her records one day, and after a performance like this, it’s easy to believe. Clark and Iowa are in the national championship game for the second year in a row, and Stuelke helped them get there.
“I believe Hannah’s fantastic. “I think it’s just confidence and belief,” Clark said after Iowa’s 71-69 victory. “She exuded confidence in her ability to dominate. She competes with Aaliyah Edwards, who I believe is one of the top players in the country.
“I’m simply so pleased for Hannah. She fought so hard to reach where she is now.”
Stuelke led Iowa with 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting before Clark and the Hawkeyes rediscovered their rhythm in the second half. She didn’t simply perform well offensively. After Clark missed a free shot, Stuelke put her fingers on the ball and tipped it to Sydney Affolter, giving Iowa possession with three seconds remaining.
And everyone at the NCAA and ESPN is overjoyed.
This wasn’t Clark and Iowa’s most stunning game, and the Hawkeyes didn’t look like the juggernaut that defeated LSU on Monday. Clark scored 21 points on 7 of 18 shooting, including 3 of 11 from 3-point range.
For long of the night, it appeared that Paige Bueckers and UConn would finish Clark’s final season in the same way they had ended her first: with a loss in the NCAA Tournament.
