Getting season tickets to see just one game? That’s what Caitlin Clark does.
Caitlin Clark is now second on the Division I women’s historic scoring list, one spot behind Kelsey Plum, who used to play for Washington.
The star player from Iowa scored 35 points, had 10 assists, and grabbed six rebounds during the No. 3 Hawkeyes’ 110–74 win over Nu on Wednesday night.
Clark made a layup with 4:58 left in the first half to give her 14 points and 3,403 career points.
This put her ahead of Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell (3,402) and behind Missouri State’s Jackie Stiles (3,393) for third place, who she passed with a 3-pointer with 2:04 left in the first quarter. Greg Mittelman’s only goal was to watch Caitlin Clark play.
He lived in Chicago and went to the University of Iowa. The Hawkeyes’ game at Northwestern on January 31 was his best chance because they were the NCAA runner-up. A single-game ticket was what he was after.
But after they sold out in October, just a few days after they went on sale, he looked for something else. Mittelman said, “I have season tickets to see Northwestern women’s basketball.”
He hasn’t been to a game yet, but the money he spent was well spent. He spent a total of $150 on four season tickets.
SeatGeek showed that general admission seats for Wednesday’s game cost an average of $230. Mittelman’s seat was in that section. Each.
“I begged my friends to join me, but they all said, ‘You fool,'” Mittelman said. “But I feel smarter now.” He’s not by himself.
Northwestern sold the largest number of season tickets in the school’s history this year, even though they had a 9-21 record last year.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark reached another important milestone Wednesday night at Northwestern. During her team’s 110–74 win, she moved into second place in the NCAA women’s all-time scoring list.
Clark passed Kelsey Mitchell (3,402) on a layup via 4:58 left in the second quarter. Mitchell was the Naismith woman’s college player for the year for the 2022–23 season.
Before Wednesday’s game, she was fourth all-time in points scored, four behind Jackie Stiles of Missouri State and thirteen behind Mitchell. Clark passed Stiles with her second 3-pointer for the first quarter.
Clark finished with 35 points, which was her fifth straight 30-point game and the longest streak of her career. She also passed Mitchell to become the Big Ten’s highest leading scorer.
Clark, who now has 3,424 career points, will try to beat Washington’s Kelsey Plum’s record of 3,527 points, which is the NCAA’s record.
“The finest thing is the names of the people I get from being around,” said Clark. “Those are the players I grew up watching, notably Brittney Griner and Kelsey Mitchell.
They are fantastic players who are still at the top level of our game and who you watch every night.”
“Just special for me to be in the same area as them.” Clark also grabbed six rebounds, stole two balls, and blocked one. Even though she only made 3 of 12 three-point shots, she made all 10 of the free throws within 32 minutes.
“It’s amazing to pass someone as good as Kelsey Mitchell with so many games left,” Iowa mentor Lisa Bluder said. “Proud of herself, but also herself 10 assists tonight, great job.”
Bluder also said, “She made a pass to Hannah Studelke tonight that was just stupid after the shot clock.” It was weird. “I love to watch it.”
Clark, a senior in West Des Moines, Iowa, has done a lot of great things. He now holds the records for most points, assists, and 3-pointers made in Iowa.
The Big Ten record is held by Ohio the State’s Jantel Lavender. She needs 18 field goals to break it.
Given that Clark scores 32.1 points each game, she is on track to beat Plum’s record on February 15 against Michigan. Northern forward Paige Mott said, “She’s a great player.”
Clark complained about how hard it was to shoot from outside the arc on Wednesday, but she kept going to the basket and proved even left by itself for an easy layup within the fourth quarter.
“I think we did a great job of guarding her from three points, but then we forgot that she was able to jump and make layups.” She can do other things. “Another head grows when you take away one.”