Caitlin Clark wasn’t the leading scorer, but No. 2 Iowa still won comfortably by a score of 111-93 over Penn State on Thursday night in Iowa City, thanks to a career-high 47 points from Hannah Stuelke.
Stuelke shot 17-for-20 from the floor and had nine rebounds for the Hawkeyes (22-2, 11-1 Big Ten), while Kate Martin chipped in 16 points and 16 rebounds.
Clark struggled at times against Penn State’s defense with 12 turnovers, but she ended up with 27 points and 15 assists. She is now 39 points away from breaking the NCAA Division I women’s all-time scoring record held by former Washington guard Kelsey Plum. Clark will aim to hit that mark on Sunday when the Hawkeyes visit Nebraska.
Penn State (16-7, 7-5) was led by Leilani Kapinus’ double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Ashley Owusu scored 18 points and Makenna Marisa added 12.
The Nittany Lions led by two after the first quarter, then Iowa outscored them 32-19 in the second frame. The Hawkeyes outscored Penn State 52-30 in the paint in the game.
No. 1 South Carolina 83, Missouri 45
MiLaysia Fulwiley had 19 points, six steals and four assists as the Gamecocks remained undefeated and routed the Tigers in Columbia, S.C.
South Carolina (22-0, 10-0 Southeastern Conference) was also boosted by Chloe Kitts’ 12 points, eight rebounds and five blocks, plus 11 points from Sania Feagin and 10 points from Bree Hall. Ashton Judd paced Missouri (11-12, 2-8) with 12 points and 10 boards.
The Gamecocks played without starting center Kamilla Cardoso because she is playing with Brazil in a qualifying tournament for the summer Olympics. Also absent from the Gamecocks was freshman Sahnya Jah, who is suspended indefinitely for “conduct detrimental to the team,” the program announced.
No. 16 Virginia Tech 72, No. 3 NC State 61
Elizabeth Kitley piled up 25 points and 13 rebounds as the Hokies won on the road over the higher-ranked Wolfpack in Raleigh, N.C.
Georgia Amoore added a near triple-double of 12 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for Virginia Tech (19-4, 10-2 ACC) in its sixth straight win. Matilda Ekh chipped in 14 points and Cayla King scored 13.
Madison Hayes powered NC State (20-3, 8-3) with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Aziaha James scored 17 points and Saniya Rivers added 12. The Wolfpack’s two frontcourt players — Mimi Collins and River Baldwin — struggled against Kitley, combining for just eight rebounds and six points on 1-of-11 shooting.
No. 5 Ohio State 71, Minnesota 47
Celeste Taylor scored 14 points as the Buckeyes raced away from the Gophers in Minneapolis, Minn.
Cotie McMahon added 13 points and nine rebounds for Ohio State (20-3, 11-1 Big Ten), while Jacy Sheldon added 12 points and six assists. Janay Sanders led Minnesota (14-9, 4-8) with 16 points.
Ohio State led by five points at halftime, then pulled away in the third quarter by outscoring the Gophers 26-7.
No 15 Louisville 73, No. 12 Notre Dame 66
Nyla Harris produced 19 points and 10 rebounds as the No. 15 Cardinals toppled the visiting Fighting Irish.
Harris — who notched her fourth double-double of the season — made 9 of 11 shots from the floor as the Cardinals (20-4, 9-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) improved to 4-3 against ranked teams this season. Louisville also aided by 13 points from Sydney Taylor plus an effort of 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists from Kiki Jefferson.
