Iowa never loses when Caitlin Clark records a triple-double. Clark recorded her 16th career triple-double on Sunday, scoring 24 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in Iowa’s 101-85 victory over Illinois at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. However, this was not a one-player show, which coach Lisa Bluder believes is a positive thing as Iowa enters the final week of the regular season.

Hannah Stuelke tallied 20 points. Molly Davis recorded 17 points. Kate Martin had thirteen. The Hawkeyes had 28 assists on 36 field goals, with six players combining for 17 three-pointers. “We had four people in double figures, almost six people in double figures,” Bluder added, citing Kylie Feuerbach’s nine points and Sydney Affolter’s eight. “For us to be successful, that’s what we have to be.” Clark shot only 6-of-18 from the field and 5-of-14 from 3-point range, and she appeared irritated at times. But she had help.

“That’s amazing,” Bluder said of Clark’s triple-double. “But I admired how others came up tonight and accepted responsibility. I enjoyed the balance we had.” Clark wasn’t sharp, and there was plenty of frustration, including one moment in the first half when she begged to leave the game and then slapped the chair next to her twice while sitting on the bench. “I think it was just missing shots that I usually make,” Clark told reporters. “Sometimes you need to let it out and regroup. I asked for the sub to take a second to breathe deeply. Obviously, I didn’t shoot well tonight, but it wasn’t bad.

“That is just shooting. That happens. others evenings are wonderful, others are not so great, and some are ordinary, and that is simply how things go.” Iowa shot 50 percent from the field and never let the Illini (13-13, 7-9) get back into the game after the Hawkeyes went up 10-0 and 12-2 in the first half. Illinois attempted to challenge the Hawkeyes in the second half, but could never reduce the gap to single digits. “You’ve got to give Iowa credit, we were on spin cycle the entire game,” Illinois coach Shauna Green said. “They scored 17 threes. You can’t beat anyone when they hit 17 three-pointers. And it all stems from their inside-out movement.”

“We were just running our offence,” Bluder explained. “We moved the ball nicely in transition. I believe somebody just stepped forward and fired bullets.” The Hawkeyes were disappointed in an 86-69 loss at Indiana on Thursday night, which dashed their Big Ten title ambitions. Clark was more than simply a scorer in this game; she was trying to get everyone else engaged, which was exactly what Green intended. “I thought we did a good job overall on Caitlin,” Green said in a statement. “She’s an extremely talented player.” Obviously, you are not going to hold her down. We made her labour for her belongings. But I believe Caitlin did an excellent job of coming out and facilitating, which I had a feeling she would do.”

“There was some beautiful passing out there,” Bluder explained. “Caitlin’s passes and dumps to the post were spectacular in the first half. The second half was filled with such selfless play. “That is the basketball we want to see.” Davis, who had an illness earlier this month and has been trying to get back to where she was earlier in the Big Ten season, shot 6-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-6 from three. Martin and Feuerbach both made three 3-pointers. Iowa enters the last week of the regular season two games behind conference leader Ohio State, with two games remaining, and even if one of those games is against the Buckeyes, it’s difficult to envision the Hawkeyes rallying to share the Big Ten championship.