During her final regular-season home game on Sunday, Caitlin Clark surpassed the scoring record of LSU and NBA icon Pete Maravich — becoming the all-time leading scorer in Division I basketball history, regardless of gender.
The Iowa superstar has playfully embraced the moniker “Ponytail Pete,” drawing parallels between her playing style and that of basketball legend “Pistol Pete” Maravich.
On senior day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Clark took to the court against Big Ten champions Ohio State needing just 18 points to eclipse Maravich’s record of 3,667 points (1967-1970).
Clark achieved the milestone in the first half and went on to record 35 points, nine assists, and six rebounds in No. 6 Iowa’s 93-83 win over No. 2 Ohio State. The victory halted the Buckeyes’ 15-game winning streak and avenged Iowa’s previous overtime loss to Ohio State in January. With both teams as the top two seeds in the upcoming Big Ten tournament, there’s potential for a rematch in Minneapolis next week.
After the victory, Clark shared her thoughts on becoming the all-time leading scorer:
“It’s really crazy to think about,” Clark said. “Honestly, if you would have told me that before my college career started, I would’ve laughed in your face and been like, ‘No, you’re insane.’
“I’ve always been able to score the ball, but I don’t think people really understand how many amazing players have come before me and been able to score the ball and do it at such a high rate and for teams that are really, really good.”
Clark’s record-breaking moment unfolded in a rather unexpected manner. Following a missed 3-pointer by Clark as the first half came to a close, the Hawkeyes were granted one final opportunity at scoring following an unsuccessful Ohio State possession. During this critical sequence, Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke was fouled by Madison Greene, with an additional technical foul assessed to the Buckeyes’ Cotie McMahon.
Clark was handed the opportunity to make history from the charity stripe with a mere 0.3 seconds remaining. Needing to convert both shots to reach the 18-point mark, she drained both.
“Those free throws are important, and she’s very, very good [there],” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “Go back to fundamentals, everybody, right? I’m kind of glad it wasn’t a logo 3.”
This season has been a remarkable one for Clark, marked by numerous records. On Thursday, she made the decision not to utilize the COVID-19 waiver from the 2020-21 season for an additional year at Iowa, opting instead to declare for the 2024 WNBA draft. This announcement added an extra layer of significance to senior day, which she celebrated alongside teammates Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, Molly Davis, and Sharon Goodman.
Clark, hailing from West Des Moines, holds a special place in the hearts of Hawkeyes fans — not only for her exceptional performance on the court but also because she chose to remain in her home state for college. Her decision to stay “home” resonates deeply with Iowa supporters and has endeared her to the community.
Iowa will begin its Big Ten Tournament on March 8 against the winner of Penn State versus Wisconsin.
