Caitlin Clark fights back tears after Lisa Byington sums up remarkable NCAA achievement
Lisa Byington was full of praise for Caitlin Clark after she became the NCAA’s new all-time leading points scorer.
The Iowa star passed Kelsey Plum’s landmark of 3,527 to set a new record during a career-high 49-point performance in Thursday’s 106-87 victory against Michigan. The 21-year-old has received plenty of tributes from those in the sports world, such as Tom Brady, Brittney Griner and announcer and broadcaster Byington.
“When you’re chasing scoring titles, you’ve got to have the first basket and the first points, and I feel honored to have called a lot of those in your freshman and sophomore seasons,” Byington said. “You have bridged that gender gap, no longer are there women’s basketball fans and men’s basketball fans.
Because of you Caitlin Clark, there are just basketball fans. That along with this record, is part of your legacy. Congratulations.”
The 47-year-old added to her praise of Clark by tweeting: “She broke the record in the most Caitlin Clark Way. Logo Shot. Unbothered. Rose to the Moment. Your career has been an honor to call and watch. @CaitlinClark22 @IowaWBB.”
Clark set the record in style after hitting an excellent 3-point shot from the logo, one of her trademark ways to score. A capacity crowd inside the Carver-Hawkeye Arena cheered for joy after they witnessed the history-making shot, and Clark said they should have expected her to take the record by shooting from the logo.
You all knew I was going to shoot a logo 3 for the record,” she said. “I don’t know if you can really script it any better. Just to do it in this fashion, I’m very grateful. Very thankful to be surrounded by so many people that have been my foundation.”
Of the 49 points she registered on Thursday, 23 of them came inside the first quarter. Clark made 8-of-10 field goals and 5-of-7 3-point shots to start the game.
It was the most points the point guard has scored in any first quarter in her entire Iowa career and the second most of any quarter that she has played. Following the game, a tribute video was played in the arena with congratulatory messages from Clark’s coaches, teammates and family, which left her feeling very emotional.
They’ve seen me go through some really hard losses and some really great wins,” she said. “They’ve been there pushing me to be my very best and allowing me to dream ever since I was a young girl. I didn’t plan on crying tonight, but it got me a little bit. I’m so thankful every single day, because I’m playing in front of 15,000 people. I get to do it with my best friends. I get to play the game that I absolutely love more than anything.”
The Hawkeyes’ latest victory keeps them second behind Ohio State in the Big Ten as they continue their pursuit of becoming regular-season conference champions.
