Caitlin Clark finished the game with 34 points, including three free throws
Caitlin Clark had a slow start against Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship game
Iowa Hawkeyes’ star Caitlin Clark was the hero of Sunday’s overtime win over Nebraska to secure her school’s third straight Big Ten Championship.
Caitlin Clark’s immature bench behavior giving her a new reputation
Caitlin Clark called out for constantly complaining
However, the scoring prodigy didn’t start the game with the right foot.
Clark went 2 of 13 from the field and 0 of 9 from beyond the three-point line in the first half.
A frustrating first half for Caitlin Clark vs. Nebraska 😬 pic.twitter.com/vP2Bb9jiYV
— The Spun (@TheSpun) March 10, 2024
The frustrating personal start and her team’s lax defense that saw Nebraska lead by as many as 13 points had her visibly annoyed.
NCAA fans who were following the game on social media called out Clark’s behavior, often commenting on her tendency to complain after every call that didn’t go Iowa’s way.
LMFAOOOOOO look at her cry after the refs called a jump ball there!!!!!! OMFGGGGGGG CAITLIN CLARK IS THE WORST!!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/c0j1hMfLaE
— Jake Kaiser (@FlakyJake10) March 10, 2024
Amazing how Caitlin Clark never gets called for a technical foul.
Nonstop complaining to officials and the officials let her boss them around.
— Ryan Bier (@ryanbier_) March 10, 2024
I've been supporting Caitlin Clark cuz she's PHENOMENAL, but how she complains after every call or no call that doesn't go her way gets annoying.
— I See Skies of Blue ☀️ (@ISeeSkies0fBlue) March 10, 2024
Iowa expected to nab No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament
Thankfully Hawkeyes’ fans, things turned in their favor in the second half.
Clark scored 30 points in the last two quarters and led her team to a thrilling overtime comeback to grab their third consecutive Big 10 Championship.
The final score of the game was 94-88.
After the game, Clark conceded that this was the toughest competition they had faced in a Big Ten Championship game saying,
“This is definitely the hardest one. …It’s three in a row but it’s by far the hardest. I’m just so proud of our group. … It’s really hard to get to this spot. Nebraska put up a really great fight but I just thought we always responded and always had an answer for them.”
Iowa, who is expected to get the No.1 seed, will find out who will be their first rival in the NCAA tournament on March 17 in a live telecast on ESPN.
The first round of March Madness play will be held on Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21.