Ice in her veins! Takeaways from the Hawkeyes’ buzzer-beater win over No. 2 Indiana

What a win for the Iowa Hawkeyes!

Could you script the ending any better than that? Less than two seconds left on the clock with one final gasp and your National Player of the Year (yep, it’s locked up now) delivers with the most clutch of shots imaginable.

Caitlin Clark delivered the game-winning 3-pointer to take down the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers 86-85 in a nationally-televised game that had ESPN College GameDay in town. This game had an immense amount of hype leading into it and it shattered every single one of those expectations.

Now, the Hawkeyes head into the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 2 seed. This win sends them into the league tournament as arguably the hottest team in the conference. It also represents a much-needed, confidence-boosting win leading them into the postseason.

Here are the five biggest takeaways from the Hawkeyes’ exhilarating victory.

Caitlin Clark has ice in her veins

Syndication: HawkCentral

Do words even do this justice at this point? Regardless of men’s or women’s basketball, the league, you name it… we are in the midst of watching one of the most talented basketball players there has been in a long time. Caitlin Clark is on another level.

Clark delivered a 34-9-9 line against the No. 2 team in the country and capped it off with a buzzer-beater to send them packing.

Kate Martin is crucial to Iowa's success

Syndication: HawkCentral

Kate Martin stepped up today and was a crucial part of Iowa’s success. In one of Iowa’s biggest games of the season, Martin stepped up and poured in 19 points. It’s her second-highest output of the season.

Her experience and willingness to step up in big moments is vital for this team down the stretch. Clark and Monika Czinano often get their flowers, but Martin is a glue piece that this team can rely on.

Carver-Hawkeye Arena is a top women's basketball venue in America

Syndication: HawkCentral

College GameDay heading to Iowa City today was the right choice. Carver-Hawkeye Arena is a top venue in the country for women’s basketball. The energy of the sellout crowd was beyond palpable today.

Iowa fed off the energy to start this game by jumping out to a 10-2 lead in a hurry and used that to fuel them the entire way. Down the stretch, the fans were on their feet and giving life to the Hawkeyes. This arena is special and it absolutely creates an advantage.

Big Ten Tournament expectations

Syndication: HawkCentral

Is it fair to say that the Hawkeyes’ expectations could be as high as needing to make an appearance in the conference championship game? Maybe not, but it is also a reality.

Locking up the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament gives Iowa a clear path to the championship game to defend their title from last year. While the NCAA Tournament is the ultimate goal, getting to the title game in the conference tournament should be the next goal up.

This win should send Iowa to the No. 2 seeding line for the NCAA Tournament

Syndication: HawkCentral

A win over the No. 2 team in the country is one way to improve your seeding stock with the NCAA Tournament rapidly approaching. Iowa was sitting as a No. 2 seed recently, but a slide down to a No. 3 seed wasn’t out of the question.

Winning against Indiana, who will be a No. 1 seed in all likelihood, should lock the Hawkeyes into a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament barring any unforeseen upsets in the early rounds of the Big Ten Tournament. This grants Iowa the opportunity to host the early rounds of the tournament and provides them a homecourt advantage.

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Story originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire