Is Sunday the day? Caitlin Clark needs 38 to tie, 39 to break the NCAA scoring record ... but the win’s the thing

IOWA CITY — Home or away?

National television or streaming service?

Caitlin Clark’s pursuit of the NCAA Division-I women’s basketball scoring record has reached its crescendo. Thirty-eight points to catch Kelsey Plum, 39 to pass.

Now, it’s a matter of when. And where.

Clark, and the second-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (22-2 overall, 11-1 Big Ten), take their show on the road for a Sunday meeting with Nebraska (15-8, 7-5).

Tipoff is noon at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.

“Our No. 1 priority will be to win the game,” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said after the Hawkeyes’ 111-93 win over Penn State on Thursday.

However ...

“I would rather have her break it here at Carver. The fans deserve it.”

Kelsey Plum scored 3,527 points in a career at Washington that concluded in 2017. Clark’s total stands at 3,489.

Clark scored 21 points in the first half Thursday, then turned to role of facilitator in the second half and finished the game with 27 points and 15 assists.

The night, instead, belonged to Hannah Stuelke, who smashed her career-high with 47 points, also setting a Carver record (women’s or men’s).

Clark is averaging 32.2 points per game. At that rate, she will break the record Thursday at Carver, against Michigan.

However, Clark traditionally scores big against Nebraska. In the Hawkeyes’ 92-73 victory over the Huskers on Jan. 27, she scored 38.

Clark was not made available to the local media postgame Thursday. However, she did agree to speak with several national writers at Carver, and said:

“Honestly, I don’t feel that much pressure. It’s just a matter of when it’s going to happen, whether it’s back home against Michigan, or the next game on the road.

“This wasn’t always the case. Early in my career, I would get nervous for games. My maturity has grown a lot, knowing I can impact a game whether my shots are falling or not.”

Bluder echoed that.

“This is the time of (Clark’s) life,” Bluder said. “She’s enjoying every minute of it. Every person is different, but this has been no burden to her.”

If Clark breaks the record Sunday, it will happen in front of a nationally televised crowd on FOX. Thursday’s game against Michigan will be streamed on Peacock.

Home or away, Bluder does not expect the game to be stopped at that moment, but “I might decide to call a timeout.”

Still, the priority is to leave Lincoln with a win. A record, even one of this magnitude, would seem hollow in a loss, especially with the Hawkeyes tied with Ohio State for the Big Ten lead with six games to go.

Iowa has won nine straight against Nebraska. The Huskers have been a mystery this season, and a microcosm of that came in the last two games.

Last Saturday, lowly Rutgers went to Lincoln and earned its first Big Ten victory of the season, 71-70. Three days later, the Huskers got a quality road win against Michigan, 65-59.

They’re up and they’re down, and they’re smack-dab on the NCAA bubble. Raining on Iowa’s — and Clark’s — parade Sunday certainly would enhance their resume.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com