Caitlin Clark breaks Pete Maravich's NCAA scoring record

Caitlin Clark stood alone at the free-throw line Sunday and made a foul shot, moving her to the top of the NCAA Division I all-time scoring list.

The flashiness and flashiness of her game made her the biggest name in the entire college basketball world. But it was two free throws after a technical foul that helped Clark surpass the late Pete Maravich's 54-year-old record. No. 6 Iowa State defeats No. 2 Ohio State 93-83..

Clark entered the game in Iowa City, but needed 18 points to surpass Maravich's total of 3,667 points, which he scored in just 83 games over three seasons at LSU (1967-1970). She finished with 35 points, totaling 3,685 points in 130 games.

Maravich's mark dropped four days after Clark's breakout Lynette Woodard's College Women's Major Records That was when he scored 33 points against Minnesota on Wednesday.

“Being in the same space as players that have had success, whether it's Pete or Kelsey Plumb or Lynette Woodard, it means they've all contributed so much to the game.” said Clark. “If someone comes after me and breaks my record, I hope I can be there to support them.”

Clark, known for his long 3-point shooting, was given a technical call for pushing Coty McMahon a little on a dead ball with less than a second left in the first half and was asked to stand at the foul line.

Clark didn't react immediately after the second shot passed, as if it hadn't sunk in yet. She said she only learned her record had dropped after it was announced.

It didn't matter to her that she made history with two free throws rather than a half-court 3-pointer.

“The most difficult thing in basketball is like taking a free throw with no one (around) at the free throw line,” she said.

She had a slow start Sunday. Her first shot was a 3-pointer that bounced off the rim. She missed a layup from deep on her right side, but she made a three from the left side for her first basket.

After starting 2-for-7, she made three of her next four shots, including three straight threes, each one deeper than the last.

Woodard was among those who helped celebrate Clark's Senior Day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Basketball great Maya Moore, who was Clark's favorite player, and Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan were also in attendance.

“It's a great time for women's basketball,” Woodard said in a television interview. “Caitlyn is leading the way. As I watched her get scraped away, I said, 'Records are made to be broken.' They are also made to be respected. Because of her, my record is respected. She's surpassed that now, surpassed her Pete…I've passed the baton to her to go ahead and break through her ceiling, and I'm so happy for her. Masu. ”

On Thursday, Clark announced: Enter the 2024 WNBA Draft And it will skip the fifth year of eligibility given to athletes who competed during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is expected to be the first overall pick by the Indiana Fever. The WNBA is already seeing an increase in ticket sales.

Logitics, which tracks ticket resale platform prices, reported that the average sale price for tickets for Sunday's game purchased after February 1 was $598.

Kiran Nanjappa, who was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and now lives in Denver, said she paid more than $200 for tickets.

“She's truly a once-in-a-lifetime player,” he said. “I've been watching Iowa State basketball for 40 years and I've never seen a player like her, men or women. Let me just say this: I've been watching Iowa State basketball for 40 years, and I've never seen a player like her, men or women.” I paid more to see her today than I paid to see her. And I never thought I'd say that.”

Clark is almost guaranteed to make one or two more appearances at the Iowa City arena. Iowa is projected to be the No. 2 seed. In the NCAA Tournament, that means the first two rounds are played at home.

Frances Marion's Pearl Moore From 1975 to 1979, she earned 4,061 points at the AIAW elementary school level, holding the all-time record for girls. Before Moore enrolled at Francis Marion, she earned a 177 at Anderson Junior College.

Clark is 376 points behind Moore, and she has between two and nine games left in an Iowa State uniform, depending on how far the Hawkeyes advance in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.

The decline in Maravich's record was subject to scrutiny.

Maravich's all-time scoring record is one of the most remarkable in the history of the sport. In his era, there was no shot clock or 3-point line. The 3-point line was adopted in 1986.

Maravich averaged 44.2 points per game. He scored 60 or more points in a game four times, including 69 points against Alabama on February 7, 1970.

LSU coach Kim Mulkey, who grew up in Louisiana and played at Louisiana Tech, said after her. team defeated Kentucky Comparing Maravich and Clark is like comparing apples to oranges, he said on Sunday.

“What Clark has done is incredible and her name will be at the top in no time,” Mulkey said. “But he played three years here without a 3-point line. I don't think you need to worry too much about, 'Well, she passed him because he's a man.'” , that's what's great about it. Lord knows when I (instructed) her. “Are you kidding me?” What a generational talent she is. ”

Clark averages 28.3 points for his career. Her biggest performance came on February 15, when she scored 49 points against Michigan, passing Kelsey Plumb as the NCAA women's Division I all-time leading scorer.

Clark has scored 30 or more points in 55 games, the most of any male or female college basketball player in the past 25 years. She has six triple-doubles this season and 17 in her career.

“What Kaitlyn accomplished was amazing. She's a great player and a great addition to the women's game and basketball in general,” Maravich's eldest son Jason told The Associated Press last week.

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AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and AP Freelance Writer Jon Bohnenkamp in Iowa City, Iowa, contributed to this report.

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