EVANSTON, Ill. — The black-and-gold roadshow rolled into town for Wednesday’s highly anticipated Chicago-area stop, one that’s been bolded on the calendar since it sold out some three months ago.
The Hawkeyes had their people everywhere.
Iowa women’s basketball supporters have propped up the record-breaking attendance numbers at every venue the Hawkeyes have taken the floor at this season but it reached a different level inside Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena. A pregame chant that began with “Let’s go ‘Cats” quickly faded into a bellowing of “Let’s go Hawks.” Sections of purple hardly popped against the black-and-gold backdrop.
All this grand performance needed was its lead actor.
Caitlin Clark continued her college basketball domination with another round of deep heaves and passing precision that has normalized the extraordinary beyond belief. On this night, Clark became the Big Ten’s all-time leading scorer while guiding the No. 4 Hawkeyes to a 110-74 win over Northwestern with a casual 35-point, 10 assist-showing.
“This was one that was definitely circled on my calendar just because I know the amount of Iowa fans in the Chicago area,” Clark said. “I was super excited to come here. I love this gym. And (Northwestern) coach Joe (McKeown), I have so much respect for him. I think he’s amazing for women’s basketball. We’ve had a lot of good battles here.”
Clark now sits second on the NCAA career scoring list behind only Washington’s Kelsey Plum, who’ll likely relinquish first place within the next two weeks. While Iowa’s games at Nebraska (Feb. 11) and versus Michigan (Feb. 15) seem like the best record-breaking candidates, experiencing any part of this ride — like the 7,039 who piled into the building Wednesday for Northwestern’s first women’s basketball sellout ever — is a priority for many.
More:Caitlin Clark captures Big Ten scoring record, moves to No. 2 on NCAA all-time list
This night marked all the boxes on the typical Clark checklist. Some deep treys (three of them), a versatile stat line (six rebounds and 10 assists to go with the points) — and four-quarters of entertainment for anyone repping the No. 22. She surpassed Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell for Big Ten scoring supremacy on an easy layup midway through the second quarter, a fitting bucket considering how nonchalant Clark has made chasing these prestigious records down.
“These are really, really great players (I’m passing), people who are still playing our game at the highest level and people you watch night in and night out,” Clark said. “Just special for me to be in the same area as them And obviously, I play with a lot of really good teammates who have allowed me to do my thing.”
The Evanston trip did more for the Hawkeyes than just presenting Clark with another audience to entertain.
Hannah Stuelke delivered a needed emphatic showing that featured plenty of aggressiveness early and late. Her 17 points signaled Stuelke’s highest scoring output since late December, helping Iowa construct a 47-32 intermission lead that ballooned to 20-plus midway through the third quarter.
Gabbie Marshall’s downtown production popped up as well. She buried four treys, more than her last three games combined while firing away with confidence and conviction. Iowa will undoubtedly need that weapon working as it moves down the stretch in Big Ten play.
More:Look: Caitlin Clark sparks seemingly endless line of fans ahead of Iowa-Northwestern road game
“We wanted to come in here with intention and not just going through the motions and getting a W, but coming in here and getting better at some things,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “We did a better job of rebounding the second half. I love 28 assists and five turnovers. Four people in double figures.”
“… I thought Hannah got off to a nice start for us, shot the ball well. We shot the ball pretty well really in all areas.”
Iowa’s ability to do so accentuates its comfort level with these raucous road productions. The Hawkeyes sit 6-1 in true road games with another big one coming Saturday at Maryland.
Counting on Clark and the Hawkeyes to handle the noise is a safe bet.
“As my career has unfolded, I don’t feel much pressure coming into these games,” Clark said. “The more people, the more calm I am kind of thing. I truly mean that. I’m just really grateful and try to take it all in.”
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.