This match felt like a replay of 2021, when Ohio State went to Iowa and beat the Hawkeyes (I might add in a game that Dorka J. sat out).
Clark went for 43 last night and stroked a 3 from infinity with just a few minutes left. But OSU came right back and then had their guards attack Clark and see if she could first get the ball to someone else, then see if the others could do anything with it.
Her Iowa teammate and center Monika Czinano scored 23 and grabbed 9 rebounds. She was her usual second option.
After that, Kate Martin had 8...that's it.
By contrast, Ohio State had four in double figures, and two that scored 9 and 8 respectively.
OSU came back in the 2nd half and then used individual and team speed to frustrate Clark and teammates on defense, most notably Rikki Harris on CC and Tanaya Beacham on Czinano.
Jacy Sheldon, Braxtin Miller and Taylor Mikesell of the Buckeyes are all very cool customers under pressure who can stroke the jumper.
Some teams just don't match up well: OSU seems to get at Iowa while this years Michigan team has OSU's number.
Ultimately, this is Iowa's issue with Clark: she's great getting them to this level, but not sure the rest of the team can let her soar higher (save the center). And she's so exhausted getting them 35 minutes, she wears down.....
The wacky plays at the end of the game were extra frosting, but the cake is what OSU has done up that point. Tip of the hat to those guards and the game plan.
