If you’re an Iowa Hawkeyes fan that was in attendance, chances are you left Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a smile. That’s probably the case for Iowa fans watching along at home, too.
In front of another big crowd of nearly 12,000 (the Hawkeyes’ third home game with more than 11,000 in attendance), Monika Czinano made it a memorable night for Iowa fans. She scored 12 points to surpass the 2,000 career points plateau, joining teammate Caitlin Clark in that distinction.
Czinano is the second Hawkeye in as many games to reach that milestone, with junior guard Caitlin Clark scoring her 2,000th career point in Iowa’s win over Dartmouth on Dec. 21. Czinano and Caitlin Clark are the first pair of teammates in Big Ten women’s basketball history to reach that landmark in the same season.
Meanwhile, Clark got things started off the right way, scoring 11 of her team-high 24 points in the Hawkeyes’ 20-12 first quarter. Iowa (11-3, 3-0 Big Ten) didn’t look back from there, convincingly topping Purdue (10-3, 1-2 Big Ten), 83-68.
“Congratulations to Monika Czinano, that’s truly a huge accomplishment and it’s an elite group of players. I really like how we came out and took it to them in the first half. It was one of the best halves of basketball I’ve seen this group play this year. McKenna Warnock was spectacular tonight, she truly does it all. I also want to give our fans a shoutout, late game on a weeknight. Our fans are really the best in the country,” Iowa head women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder said.
Naturally, fans were digging it on social media. Here were the best responses from a night to remember for Czinano and Iowa.
Monika Czinano has reached 2,000 points for her career. She reaches the milestone just one game after Caitlin Clark.
Impressive to have two on the same team.
— Kyle Huesmann (@HuesmannKyle) December 30, 2022
Congrats to Monika Czinano, who joined teammate Caitlin Clark in the 2,000-point club tonight as @IowaWBB beat Purdue. Also of note, Hawkeyes freshman Hannah Stuelke with her first career double-double; she can really make an impact for Iowa.
— M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) December 30, 2022
Huge Congrats to @IowaWBB Monika Czinano on eclipsing 2,000 career points; she is the fifth Iowa women’s basketball player to do so.
— World Exposure Report WBB (@WorldExposureWB)
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