Caitlin Clark's Near Triple-Double Hyped by WCBB Fans in Iowa's Win vs. Holy Cross

Iowa encountered little trouble against No. 16 Holy Cross to open the 2024 NCAA women's basketball tournament as the No. 1 seed rolled to a 91-65 victory at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Saturday.

Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark struggled to find her shot early into the contest but finished with 27 points and went 8-of-19 from the field. She added eight rebounds and 10 assists for her 22nd double-double of the season.

Senior guard Kate Martin also posted a double-double (15 points and 14 rebounds) while senior guard Gabbie Marshall and junior forward Addison O'Grady scored in double figures.

When it came to Clark, fans couldn't help but notice both her performance and her single-minded determination despite the outcome pretty much being sealed by halftime.

In general, the win over the Crusaders provided little evidence one way or the other regarding Iowa's quest for a national title. The Big Ten champions shot 46.3 percent from the field, out-rebounded Holy Cross 50-37 and had a 40-20 edge in terms of paint scoring.

The Hawkeyes did exactly what you would've expected against a clearly overmatched opponent.

They will play either West Virginia or Princeton in the second round, which will be the last time Clark plays in Iowa City. As if that doesn't provide enough motivation, the reigning national player of the year might have a chip on her shoulder should the Mountaineers advance.

Whether it's WVU or Princeton awaiting the team, the second round should be a slightly better litmus test for Iowa's title credentials.