Sports have a way of compelling us to expect the unexpected.
Coming into the game where Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 jersey was to be retired, the Iowa Hawkeyes were supposed to be trounced by the visiting No. 4 USC Trojans and sophomore sensation JuJu Watkins. The home team was 13.5-point underdogs, a label unfamiliar to them in years.
But there was something in the air at Carver Hawkeye Arena, not to mention an off-the-charts decibel range.
The game started with Iowa surging to an 18-4 advantage after one quarter, as their high-tempo offense and pressured-packed defense forced the Trojans to go 1-for-14 from the field. The energy in Carver was electric as former players Monika Czinano, McKenna Warnock, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall looked on, along with former head coach Lisa Bluder and special guest David Letterman.
In the second quarter, the Trojans took control back, as Watkins began to score at will while their full-court press defense forced the Hawkeyes into turnovers. Iowa also missed shots they would normally make and were outscored 25-10, only converting on two field goals in the period. At the halftime break, the Trojans had a 29-28 lead.
The third quarter was tightly-contested, with neither side in control of the tempo. But then Lucy Olsen carried the…
