Iowa hosts Bowling Green on Saturday, and Caitlin Clark is closing fast on another milestone

IOWA CITY — It’s a long shot.

Then again, Caitlin Clark is adept at long shots.

The next in a series of scoring milestones is in sight for the University of Iowa women’s basketball great. She needs 46 points to become the 15th player in Division-I history to reach the 3,000-point milestone.

Her career high: 46 points.

Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder was asked if she might turn Clark loose Saturday, when the fourth-ranked Hawkeyes (7-1) host Bowling Green (5-1).

“Probably not,” she said. “We’re focusing on the win and on team chemistry.

“I’d love to see her get it at home, but I think it would be cool to get it against Iowa State (next Wednesday), too. It’s not something I focus on, and I’m sure she doesn’t either. But 3,000 is incredible.

“I’m excited for her, but there are no plans to set that up at home.”

Tipoff is 12:30 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will be televised by FS1.

Speaking of long shots ...

The Hawkeyes found their 3-point stroke in Florida last weekend, connecting on 43 of 92 (46.7 percent) in three wins at the Gulf Coast Classic. That included a school-record 20 (in 33 tries) in the semifinal against Florida Gulf Coast.

Prior to last week, the success rate was a pedestrian 30.1 percent.

“I think we’ve been moving the ball better since the first Kansas State game (Nov. 16),” Bluder said. “A lot of it is people getting opportunities and making good use of it.”

Molly Davis joined Clark on the all-tournament team at Estero, and Sharon Goodman hit 13 of 16 field-goal attempts, scoring 32 points in 37 minutes.

Goodman is likely to remain in the starting lineup for at least one more game. Bluder said Tuesday that she didn’t expect Hannah Stuelke back Saturday.

Stuelke was injured in the first game in Florida, and missed the next two.

“I don’t think she’ll be back this weekend,” Bluder said. “Hopefully she’ll be back for Iowa State, but I just don’t know.”

Stuelke’s injury remains undisclosed: “I’m not going to go into it,” Bluder said. “It’s not my place to go into injuries of our players.”

Bowling Green has won four straight games, but Saturday is the beginning of a challenging stretch for the Falcons, who also host No. 1 South Carolina and travel to Indiana in December.

A 5-foot-5 senior guard, Lexi Fleming leads the Falcons at 16.8 points per game. The Falcons shoot 39.4 percent from 3-point range.

NCAA Division-I women’s basketball 3,000-point club

1. Kelsey Plum (Washington, 2017) 3,527

2. Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio State, 2018) 3,402

3. Jackie Stiles (Missouri State, 2001) 3,393

4. Brittney Griner (Baylor, 2013) 3,283

5. Patricia Hoskins (Mississippi Valley State, 1989) 3,122

6. Lorri Bauman (Drake, 1984) 3,115

7. Jerica Coley (Florida International, 2014) 3,107

8. Rachel Banham (Minnesota, 2016) 3,093

9. Ashley Joens (Iowa State, 2023) 3,060

10. Elena Delle Donne (Delaware, 2013) 3,039

11. Maya Moore (Connecticut, 2011) 3,036

12. Chamique Holdsclaw (Tennessee, 1999) 3,025

13. Cheryl Miller (USC, 1986) 3,018

14. Cindy Blodgett (Maine, 1998) 3,005

NOTE: Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is 16th with 2,954 points.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com