The fifth ranked-versus-ranked matchup of the opening week in women’s college basketball did not disappoint. Caitlin Clark and Georgia Amoore traded 3-pointers, Elizabeth Kitley had a double-double, and Iowa’s cast of supporting players asserted themselves in the paint.
When the dust settled, No. 3 Iowa topped No. 8 Virginia Tech 80-76 in front of an announced crowd of 15,196 fans at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clark scored 44 points as the Ally Tipoff lived up to the hype.
Despite the defeat, Virginia Tech was extremely complimentary of the electric atmosphere in Charlotte.
“It was absolutely unreal, for our second game in November… It’s what you dream of when you come to college,” Amoore said. “To be put on the spotlight in an NBA arena with a great opponent, that’s just what you can dream of.”
Hokies coach Kenny Brooks added: “I’ve been in this arena before when Steph Curry was in here and it wasn’t this loud.”
What a game. We might see Iowa vs. VT again in the Final 4.
— Kelly Gramlich (@kellygramlich) November 10, 2023
An early season matchup like this between two teams that played in the Final Four last spring can tell us quite a bit about where they’re going and what sort of expectations we should have for these squads going forward.
Here’s what we learned about the Hawkeyes and the Hokies:
Nov 9, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) tries to dribble past Virginia Tech Hokies guard Carleigh Wenzel (1) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
This was really the difference in the game: one team had Clark and the other did not.
Clark’s performance marked the ninth time in her career that she’s scored at least 44 points in a single game, and the first time she had hit that mark since last season’s Final Four win over South Carolina. She shot just 1-of-7 from 3-point range in the first half, but found more success from deep range after halftime, shooting 4-of-9.
“She is a generational talent. She’s got the length, she’s got the speed, she’s literally been gifted by every single God you can imagine. She’s insane,” Amoore said of Clark. “You can say, ‘let’s double-team,’ but she’s so smart that she can pick you apart.”
Clark also had eight rebounds and six assists. Perhaps most impressive is that the reigning consensus National Player of the Year only had one turnover in 40 minutes of play. And she also drew 16 fouls.
“You’re playing a generational player. We’re going to watch this young lady play for a very long time,” Brooks said. “I love my girls, but sometimes, you’re playing checkers and she’s playing chess. She’s that good.”
Enjoy Clark while she’s here, college basketball fans. Everything about her game indicates that she’ll likely be a top-three pick in the WNBA Draft this spring, if she chooses to enter.
Clark finished with 44, the most ever by a Virginia Tech opposing player.
Hawkeyes W, 80-76. Scoring went way up in the 4th.
— Her Hoop Stats (@herhoopstats) November 10, 2023
Nov 9, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Georgia Amoore (5) shoots a jumper over Iowa Hawkeyes guard Gabbie Marshall (24) during the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
The Australian senior – who was the ACC Tournament MVP and the Most Outstanding Player at the Seattle 3 Regional last season – was more than up for a duel with Clark and restated her case as one of the nation’s top scoring guards.
Iowa jumped out to a 13-4 lead to start the game, but Virginia Tech ended the first quarter on top, closing the opening period with a 14-2 run. And much of it was fueled by Amoore, who scored 11 of those points and swished a half-court buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the quarter – proving to Clark and anyone else that, yes, she can shoot from the logo too.
GEORGIA AMOORE ARE YOU SERIOUS 😱😱#NCAAWBB x 🎥 ESPN 2/@accwbb pic.twitter.com/hF9TdYOcZX
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) November 10, 2023
“I had to come out and, from the get-go, carrying off the season I had last year – I knew it was in me. I knew I was capable,” Amoore said. “So, I’m trying to start off like that this year and be a leader, scoring-wise, and still trying to facilitate for my teammates.”
Amoore’s exceptional play continued throughout the game as she finished with 31 points on 7-of-14 shooting from 3-point range and three assists.
“In the fourth quarter, it got exciting. We were trading 3’s and it felt like that’s really what both teams are about is really great offense, can shoot the ball really well,” Clark said. “And Georgia is one of the best guards in the country. I think that’s pretty obvious.”
Nov 9, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Sydney Affolter (3) has her shot blocked by the Virginia Tech Hokies defense during the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
The tallest player in Iowa’s starting lineup was 6-foot-2 Hannah Stuleke. Off the bench, the Hawkeyes also utilized 6-foot-3 Sharon Goodman, but – on-paper, anyways – it didn’t look like Iowa would have a real answer for All-American and two-time ACC Player of the Year Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech’s fifth-year 6-foot-6 center.
And yet, Kitley was held in-check while Iowa had its way under the basket.
Iowa outscored Virginia Tech 42-20 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 47-40. Kitley had 16 rebounds and 16 points for the Hokies, but shot just 7-of-16 from the floor. Sydney Affolter, a 5-foot-11 guard for the Hawkeyes, led Iowa with a career-high 14 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.
It’s a good thing that Iowa found success inside the arc, because the Hawkeyes often struggled behind it, shooting just 1-of-14 from 3-point land in the first half and just 23.1% for the game.
Big game in Charlotte, y’all. #ncaaW pic.twitter.com/UlRbeNyoN2
— Mitchell Northam (@primetimeMitch) November 10, 2023
