With first Big Ten title on line, Caitlin Clark finds another way to improve

IOWA CITY — Caitlin Clark showed her seemingly-endless range again Sunday. Her trademark swagger was on display again, too.

But there was one thing that was nonexistent for most of the game — something she surely doesn’t mind lacking.

Her turnovers.

“It was definitely something in my mind,” Clark said.

If there’s been one shortcoming in Iowa star Caitlin Clark’s recent performances, it’s been turning the ball over.

Clark averaged 7.3 turnovers per game in her previous four games.

“I started the game very, kind of tense, turning the ball over,” Clark said of her past performances. “Very uncharacteristic of me.”

But with a share of the Big Ten regular-season title on the line — Iowa’s first regular-season title since Clark was 6 years old — Sunday was a different story.

The sophomore from West Des Moines had just two turnovers — the fewest in a game since she also had two against Minnesota on Feb. 9. It was also less than half of her season average.

“I knew that was going to be a big key,” Clark said.

Both turnovers came in the fourth quarter, with the game well out of reach.

Clark said the team “talked about that a lot” going into its clash with No. 6 Michigan.

“That was a focus point these past few days prepping,” Clark said. “That’s what Coach (Lisa) Bluder talked about in the locker room.”

What changed?

“Not forcing things I didn’t need to force,” Clark said. “Making the easy pass.”

Meanwhile, Clark once again had no issues finding her teammates. Sunday’s 104-80 rout of No. 6 Michigan was Clark’s ninth straight game with at least six assists.

Clark finished the game with 11 assists, including five in the fourth quarter.

"That’s Iowa basketball — the way we share the ball and get that assist,“ Clark said. ”That’s what we take pride in.“

Her progression in assists and turnovers have been the latest part of Clark’s maturation during her sophomore year.

“She knows how to control herself in the game more this year than she did before,” Bluder said. “Her rebounding has gotten better this year, and I think she’s starting to understand what she’s capable of.”

The latest improvement to Clark’s game adds to an already-impressive resume for national postseason awards, including National Player of the Year.

National media have pointed to South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston as the front-runner for Player of the Year, but Bluder is confident Clark is the best player in college basketball.

“No doubt she is,” Bluder said. “I’m sure their coaches feel just as strongly about them as I do about Caitlin, but Caitlin is in a situation where she has the ball in her hands all the time.”

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