Caitlin Clark’s 13th career triple-double powers Iowa women’s basketball past pesky Loyola

IOWA CITY — It’s naturally ingrained in college basketball coaches everywhere to worry about a flat showing right before the holiday break, even if the foe seems to be an overmatched one. The often manufactured concern can sound redundant and unnecessary…until it plays out exactly as feared.

Such was the scene for No. 3 Iowa women’s basketball Wednesday evening, at least to start. Loyola Chicago hung stride for stride with Caitlin Clark and the mighty Hawkeyes until the intermission horn. It was only then that Iowa morphed into the basketball beast it knows it is.

Buoyed by Clark’s 13th career triple-double — 35 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists — Iowa pushed past the Ramblers for a 98-69 home win that concludes the Hawkeyes’ non-conference schedule. Iowa (12-1) heads into its eight-day holiday break having successfully navigated through a tricky task that could’ve been problematic.

In all its triumphs so far this season, the one thing Iowa hadn’t done is let an opponent hang around longer than it deserved to. Games that were supposed to be lopsided finished exactly that way. Loyola, which entered as roughly a 40-point underdog, hardly seemed like a good upset candidate.

The Hawkeyes eventually shook the Ramblers free, but it took some time. Loyola shot better than 50% overall until late in the third quarter, draining eight first-half treys while constructing a lead as large as seven before the break. An 8-2 push into the locker room gave Iowa a 51-46 halftime advantage, with hopes of momentum helping the team look like themselves in the second half.

Iowa did exactly that.

Clark poured in 16 points in the third quarter alone on 6-for-8 shooting, as Iowa ballooned its cushion to 18 points before the final 10 minutes. With Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides and multiple assistants in the building — all eyeing Clark as owners of the WNBA’s No. 1 overall pick next April — Iowa’s superstar showed her ability to stand tall when not everything flowed smoothly. That trait can prove valuable at the next level as much as any deep shot or nifty pass will.

Back at this level, Clark also needed the help around her to make sure Wednesday finished as a nondescript win and not something worse.

That started with Hannah Stuelke, who returned to the starting lineup for the first time since her injury in Florida on Nov. 24. All the sophomore did was deliver 20 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes, yet another sign she’s back to full strength.

Iowa also picked up double-digit scoring assistance from Kate Martin (19 points) and Sydney Affolter (10 points), the latter making her second career start with Gabbie Marshall out ill. Iowa missed Marshall at times on defense but managed overall.

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.