Caitlin Clark bounces back from sluggish start; Iowa cruises to first-round NCAA Tournament victory

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The Iowa Hawkeyes overcame a sluggish start to their first-round NCAA Tournament matchup against 16th-seeded Holy Cross.

Caitlin Clark, NCAA Division I's all-time leading scorer, uncharacteristically struggled to make her shots early on and was visibly frustrated. 

But she bounced back and finished with 27 points and 10 assists in Iowa's 91-65 win. Hawkeyes guard Kate Martin added 15 points and 14 rebounds to advance Iowa to the second round.

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Iowa’s Caitlin Clark (22) reacts while playing Holy Cross in a first-round NCAA Tournament game Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen/USA Today Network)

The eight-seeded West Virginia Mountaineers defeated the Princeton Tigers Saturday at Carver–Hawkeye Arena, earning them a spot in Monday's second-round game against the Hawkeyes.

Clark finished with her 65th career double-double and added eight rebounds.

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The Hawkeyes went on a 10-0 run midway through the first quarter that didn’t bother the Crusaders, who were within 23-21 at the end of the quarter.

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) attempts a 3-pointer during an NCAA Tournament first-round game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Iowa City. (Lily Smith/The Register/USA Today Network)

The Hawkeyes then outscored Holy Cross 25-9 in the second quarter, holding the Crusaders to just 1 of 12 shooting. Clark finally got her first 3-pointer with 3:26 left in the first half, shaking her head and rolling her eyes after making the shot.