As Caitlin Clark goes, so goes No. 2 Iowa. On a night where its star went 9 of 32 from the floor, the Hawkeyes were unable to find enough from other contributors to hold back Kansas State, as the Wildcats went into Carver-Hawkeye Arena and sprang a 65-58 upset on Thursday night.
Senior center Ayoka Lee, who missed all of last season with an injury, led the Wildcats with 22 points and 12 rebounds and said this win felt “amazing” and “made all of last year so worth it.”
“I’m just just so grateful. I think everyone fought. We knew it was going to be a 40-minute battle,” Lee said on the broadcast after the game. “So much gratitude for my teammates, for our coaches, and just the way we prepared and fought.”
Iowa, ahead by a point at halftime, was never able to control a game that saw nine lead changes in what proved to be a physical battle. Kansas State found a 42-35 advantage after the break, but Iowa roared back on a 7-0 run in less than two minutes in the third quarter to tie it.
K-State then turned up the heat in the fourth quarter, outscoring the host Hawkeyes 23-14 over the last 10 minutes and finishing the night on a 12-0 run.
Kansas State held Iowa to 36% shooting as the Hawkeyes made just 22…
