Lethargic early, No. 4 Iowa snaps out of it behind Caitlin Clark’s 13th career triple-double

IOWA CITY — As Caitlin Clark exited, her 13th career triple-double in hand, a standing ovation followed.

One of those on her feet was Christie Sides, head coach of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever.

She, and two of her assistants, departed Carver-Hawkeye Arena’s media row as Clark sat. Surely, they were satisfied with what they viewed.

Clark posted 35 points, a career-high 17 rebounds and 10 assists, and fourth-ranked Iowa overcame a sluggish defensive start to race away from Loyola Chicago, 98-69, in a non-conference women’s basketball game before an announced crowd of 14,998 Thursday night.

“We started getting stops,” Iowa’s Kate Martin said.

“Yeah, we were playing defense and getting out in transition,” Clark chimed in.

For much of the first half, Loyola was the equal, if not the superior, to the mighty Hawkeyes (12-1).

Reality came later.

“Our defense wasn’t very good at the beginning of the game,” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said.

“Loyola shot the ball extremely well. Too well. That’s on us.”

The Hawkeyes trailed throughout most of the second quarter; the largest deficit was 35-28 at the 6:38 mark.

But they put up 23 points from that point until halftime and worked their way to a 51-46 advantage by intermission.

It was 79-61 by the end of the third quarter, and the Hawkeyes put a bow on it with the final 13 points.

“We were much more locked in, in the second half,” Clark said.

With 3,114 career points, Clark climbed to No. 7 on the all-time NCAA Division-I career scoring chart, passing Rachel Banham (3,093) and Jerica Coley (3,107).

Next up is Drake great Lorri Bauman (3,115).

The Fever have the first pick in April’s WNBA Draft, and it is widely assumed that they will select Clark if she opts to go pro after this season.

Before the game, Sides said she was unable to talk about Clark on the record. But she oohed and ahhed along with everyone else as the Hawkeyes’ dynamo did her thing.

If Sides was pleased, 10-year-old Norah Clancy went home ecstatic.

The girl from Springfield, Ill., was watching the Hawkeyes in person for the first time. She went home with a pair of Nike Kobe Reverse Grinches, size 9 1/2, worn by Clark during another brilliant outing and signed afterward.

“It’s really cool,” said Clark, who remained sock-footed during the postgame news conference. “If you can make somebody’s day, month, year ... it’s really cool.”

Cedar Rapids native Hannah Stuelke added 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Martin scored 19, Sydney Affolter 10.

Gabbie Marshall (illness) did not play.

Winners of nine straight games, the Hawkeyes owned a 51-27 advantage on the glass and hit 21 of 27 free throws, compared to 4 of 7 for Loyola (6-5).

The Ramblers made 13 3-pointers in 35 attempts.

Iowa resumes Big Ten play, for good, with a Dec. 30 home contest against Minnesota.

Iowa 98, Loyola Chicago 69

At Iowa City

LOYOLA CHICAGO (69): Sitori Tanin 1-1 0-0 2, Alyssa Fisher 5-14 0-0 12, Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr 3-7 0-0 8, Ali Berg 1-6 0-0 3, Sam Galanopolous 6-11 0-0 14, Emma Nolan 5-10 2-4 15, Aaliyah Moore 0-3 0-0 0, Kira Chivers 0-0 0-0 0, Sophia Nolan 3-10 2-3 9, Audrey Deptula 2-2 0-0 6, Mallory Ramage 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-64 4-7 69.

IOWA (98): Hannah Stuelke 9-15 2-6 20, Molly Davis 0-3 0-0 0, Sydney Affolter 3-7 4-5 10, Kate Martin 6-11 4-4 19, Caitlin Clark 12-21 7-8 35, Kylie Feuerbach 0-1 4-4 4, Taylor McCabe 0-3 0-0 0, Sharon Goodman 1-2 0-0 2, Addison O’Grady 1-2 0-0 2, Jada Gyamfi 2-3 0-0 4, A.J. Ediger 1-2 0-0 2, Kennise Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-70 21-27 98.

Loyola Chicago 19 27 15 8 — 69

Iowa 21 30 28 19 — 98

3-point goals: Loyola 13-35 (Fisher 2-7, Hodge-Carr 2-3, Berg 1-5, Galanpolous 2-6, E. Nolan 3-7, S. Nolan 1-5, Deptula 2-2), Iowa 7-24 (Davis 0-2, Affolter 0-1, Martin 3-5, Clark 4-12, Feuerbach 0-1, McCabe 0-3). Team fouls: Loyola 23, Iowa 13. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Loyola 27 (S. Nolan 5), Iowa 51 (Clark 17). Assists: Loyola 16 (Galanpolous 4), Iowa 18 (Clark 10). Steals: Loyola 7 (Hodge-Carr 2), Iowa 8 (Feuerbach 3). Turnovers: Loyola 23, Iowa 17.

Attendance: 14,998.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com