Iowa star Caitlin Clark is ‘a lot stronger’ in 2022-23, Maryland’s Brenda Frese believes

IOWA CITY — In two decades coaching Maryland, head coach Brenda Frese has seen her fair share of talented women’s basketball players.

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Frese said Thursday, is a “once-in-a-lifetime type of player.”

“A pleasure to watch play unless you’re scouting her and going against her,” Frese said.

Frese again watched Clark play Thursday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and the result was not a pleasure for her Terrapins.

Clark racked up 42 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in No. 6 Iowa’s 96-82 win Thursday.

She shot 13-of-19, including 6-of-11 from deep. Her 9-of-11 shooting in the first half helped the Hawkeyes build a 16-point halftime lead.

“She can do so many things well,” said Frese, a Cedar Rapids Washington graduate.

Clark scored 19, 21 and 34 points in her previous three matchups against Maryland, but the Terrapins won by 12, 20 and 12 points, respectively.

When matchup No. 4 happened between No. 6 Iowa and No. 8 Maryland Thursday, Frese took note of “the time that (Clark) spent in the weight room this season.”

“The difference for her this year is she’s just a lot stronger,” Frese said. “She’s a lot more durable.”

As for Clark, she can now check off Maryland from the list of teams she has not been able to beat yet.

“So this one probably felt a little better for me,” Clark said.

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