Caitlin Clark’s date with destiny arrives Thursday at Carver

IOWA CITY — She’s a show-stopper, soon-to-be chart-topper.

But when it comes to serving as a ticket broker, even Caitlin Clark has her limits.

“I had to tell a lot of people no,” Clark said Wednesday, on the eve of what should be her historic night.

“I’m excited. It’s going to be a special night. I’m going to have a blast with my teammates and enjoy it.”

Clark is a virtual slam-dunk to become the leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball history Thursday, when the fourth-ranked Hawkeyes (22-3 overall, 11-2 Big Ten) host Michigan (16-9, 7-6).

Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in a game streamed by Peacock.

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A senior guard, Clark stands at 3,520 points in her Iowa career. Kelsey Plum (Washington, 2013-17) holds the record with 3,527.

Seven to tie, eight to pass.

For reference, Clark is averaging 32.1 points per game this season, 28.2 in her 126-game career.

“It should be a historic day,” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said. “Obviously, she’s going to blast (the scoring record) out of the water.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, second-hand tickets at SeatGeek were selling in a range from $217 to $48,000.

Clark’s allotment of tickets goes first to family and a few friends. One will go to Kristin Meyer, her high-school coach at West Des Moines Dowling.

“It’s the first time she’s seen me play all season,” Clark said. “I’m glad she’ll be there (Thursday).”

Clark said she hopes “they don’t stop the game” after her record-breaking points, though Bluder has planned on taking a timeout.

“I’ll talk to her about it,” Bluder said.

Iowa fell out of a tie for first place in the Big Ten on Sunday, letting a 14-point fourth-quarter lead slip away in an 82-79 loss at Nebraska.

It is the second time this season the Hawkeyes blew a late double-digit lead; the other was at Ohio State.

Iowa frittered away an 18-point third-quarter advantage at Maryland, but gathered itself and eventually won.

“It’s concerning,” Bluder said. “Maryland and Nebraska, they shifted their defense and we didn’t respond well. Ohio State, they were just getting to the free-throw line, over and over.”

Molly Davis has been battling illness through the past week and has played in an extremely limited capacity the past two games.

“She practiced Monday and was doing better,” Bluder said. “It was really good to see.

“We missed her last week.”

Davis will be back in time to face a Michigan squad that leads the Big Ten in scoring defense, at 61.3 points allowed per game.

Victory, of course, is priority No. 1 for the Hawkeyes

“We’ve had two games that we’ve lost that we could have won if we had executed properly,” Clark said

“The amount of points doesn’t determine how good somebody is playing. Plus/minus is something that Coach Bluder preaches, how much you’re affecting the game you’re in.”

That said ...

“I’m going to soak in every second (Thursday),” she added. “The best way to debrief is to get off my phone and social media.

“But I’m going to enjoy this.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com