Caitlin Clark's career vs. Indiana women's basketball as Hoosiers host Iowa

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana women's basketball has a chance for a statement victory when it hosts Iowa on Thursday night in front of the program's second-ever sell out crowd at Assembly Hall.

The No. 14 Hoosiers (21-4; 12-3 Big Ten) are in need of a meaningful win after a loss earlier in the week to Illinois put them at risk out of falling out of the top 16 seeds for the NCAA tournament.

A win over No. 4 Iowa (23-3; 12-2) and the nation's leading scorer Caitlin Clark would fit the bill.

Clark has averaged 28.3 points per game (49.4%) with 3.3 made 3-pointers per game (32.9%), 7.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds in eight games against Indiana. Her career averages going into Thursday night's game — 28.3 points per game (46.8%), 3.9 made 3-pointers per game (38.3%), 8.1 assists and 7.0 rebounds.

Indiana's best defensive performance against Clark came in the 2022 Big Ten Championship game when it held her to 18 points on 6 of 17 shooting, 1 of 7 from 3-point range and just two assists. The Hoosiers have only held her under 20 points twice.

That's becoming a near-impossible feat with Clark scoring more than 20 points in 36 straight games going back to last season.

Indiana coach Teri Moren was complimentary of the job Chloe Moore-McNeil and Lexus Bargesser did in the first meeting between the teams this season, but Clark still managed to score 30 points and six 3-pointers.

Iowa has a 52-17 record in the Big Ten during Clark's career.

Ohio State and Maryland are the only teams with more conference wins over the Hawkeyes during that stretch than Indiana. The Hoosiers are 3-5 against Clark, but have lost five of the last six in the series.

Here's a look at how Indiana has performed against Iowa during Clark's career:

More: Mackenzie Holmes and Caitlin Clark turned Indiana-Iowa rivalry into must-see matchup

2020-21 Season

INDIANA 85, IOWA 72

■ When: Feb. 7, 2021

■ Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena

■ Clark's numbers: 30 points (12 of 27), 4 of 12 3-pts, 4 rebounds, 1 assist

■ The game: This was Indiana’s first road win at Iowa since Feb. 20, 1994. The Hoosiers went on a 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter to expand on a 58-56 lead. Ali Patberg scored 12 of her 23 points in the quarter. Clark scored 30 points for the fifth time in her career, but she was 3 of 8 with four turnovers in the final 10 minutes thanks to pesky defense from Nicole Cardaño-Hillary.

INDIANA 89, IOWA 80

■ When: March 3, 2021

■ Where: Assembly Hall

■ Clark's numbers: 32 points (11 of 18), 5 of 7 3-pts, 2 rebounds 5 assists

■ The game: Indiana completed the season sweep over Iowa to win its eight straight game. There were 12 lead changes in the game and the Hoosiers trailed by 49-42 with 8:55 to go in the third quarter. They dominated on the glass to take back control with a 25-15 rebounding advantage and had 21 second chance points off 13 offensive rebounds. Clark fouled out with 2:50 left in the game.

More: Indiana women's basketball ticket prices reach new heights for Caitlin Clark's visit

2021-22 Season

IOWA, 96, INDIANA 91

■ When: Feb. 19, 2022

■ Where: Assembly Hall

■ Clark's numbers: 18 points (7 of 17), 1 of 5 3-pts, 4 rebounds, 12 assists

■ The game: Iowa jumped out to a 14-point advantage in the first quarter while the No. 5 Hoosiers shot 26.7% from the field. The Hawkeyes lead grew to as many as 24 points in the final minute of the third. Indiana came storming back by scoring a program record 42 points in the fourth quarter.

IOWA 88, INDIANA 82

■ When: Feb. 21, 2022

■ Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena

■ Clark's numbers: 29 points (9 of 20), 2 of 9 3-pts, 8 rebounds, 8 assists

■ The game: The rivals played twice in three days thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing a number of games to be rescheduled. Clark turned it over seven times in the first half as IU went into the break up 52-41. Iowa jumped out in front thanks to a 11-0 fourth quarter run with senior center Monika Czinano scoring nine points during the stretch. She led all scorers with 31 points (13 of 17 shooting) and 10 rebounds.

IOWA 74, INDIANA 67 (Big Ten Tournament Finals) 

■ When: March 6, 2022

■ Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse

■ Clark's numbers: 18 points (6 of 17), 1 of 7 3-pts, 7 rebounds, 1 assist

■ The game: Indiana was making its first appearance in the Big Ten finals in 20 years, but was playing its fourth time in as many days. It was a one-possession game after each of the first three quarters. The Hoosiers locked down Clark, who went 1 of 7 from 3-point range, but struggled containing Czinano in the paint once again. She had 30 points and 10 points.

2022-23 Season

INDIANA 87, IOWA 78

■ When: Feb. 9, 2023

■ Where: Assembly Hall

■ Clark's numbers: 35 points (12 of 28), 3 of 11 3-pts, 4 rebounds, 10 assists

■ The game: It was the first Big Ten matchup between top-five teams in nearly 30 years, Indiana was ranked No. 2 and Iowa was ranked No. 5, in front of a then program record 13,046 fans. Grace Berger and Holmes combined to score 20 of Indiana’s 23 points in the third quarter to keep Iowa at bay. Czinano only had six points and fouled out in the fourth. It was the Hoosiers fourth win against an AP top-10 opponent.

IOWA 86, INDIANA 85

■ When: Feb. 26, 2023

■ Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena

■ Clark's numbers: 34 points (12 of 22), 4 of 12 3-pts, 9 rebounds, 9 assists

■ The game: Clark hit an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Iowa a win over No. 2 Indiana. She took the inbound pass with 1.5 seconds left and came off a screen set by Czinano. Holmes handed the Hoosiers a 85-83 in the final minute with a pair of free throws after they trailed by as many as 11 points. Iowa’s win snapped Indiana’s 14-game win streak that was one short of tying the program record.

2023-24 Season

Iowa 84, Indiana 57

■ When: Jan. 14, 2024

■ Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena

■ Clark's numbers: 30 points (10 of 21), 6 of 16 3-pts, 5 rebounds, 11 assists

■ The game: Iowa ended Indiana's 13-game win streak while improving to 6-0 in the conference. The Hawkeyes built up a 17-point lead in the third quarter while draining a barrage of 3-point shots. They made 15 3-point field goals, tied for second most of the season at the time, on a season-high 36 attempts. Clark was early foul trouble, but she still managed to put up 30 points and 11 assists.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Breakdown of Caitlin Clark's career vs. Indiana women's basketball