'She's that good': Caitlin Clark drops 44 as No. 3 Iowa takes down No. 5 Virginia Tech

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The high-flying product that Iowa women's basketball loves to lean on remained grounded much longer than usual in Thursday's high-profile showdown, one that was supposed to pour in the points from two top-five squads.

Fortunately for the Hawkeyes, No. 22 usually figures it out one way or another.

Despite an off shooting night from Caitlin Clark, and the No. 3 Hawkeyes as a whole, against No. 5 Virginia Tech, Iowa's superstar unlocked a victorious route with tough drives and smart passing until the treys eventually came. The final product was an 80-76 Iowa victory at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, a win that sets an early convincing tone about where this team can go.

If there's such a thing as a grueling 44-point showing, that's what Clark delivered in front of a pro-Virginia Tech crowd that capitalized on the geographical proximity. But it was those in black and gold, many of them decked out in Clark swag with handmade signs, that made the loudest noise when the clock struck all zeros.

Clark finished 13-for-31 from the field, including 5-for-16 from deep and 13-for-17 at the line. Unsurprisingly, much of that production arrived in crunch time — with 16 fourth-quarter points — as Clark supplied the cushion Iowa needed to finally lurch away.

"Sometimes you're playing checkers, and she's playing chess," said Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks. "She's that good."

Clark's trey with 4:50 remaining handed the Hawkeyes a 71-62 advantage, their largest lead at the time since late in the first quarter. Virginia Tech made one late push in the closing minutes, leaning on Georgia Amoore's downtown stroke that was there all night with Elizabeth Kitley stifled until late. The Hokies got within four with 48 seconds remaining and three with 5.6 seconds left — but no closer as Clark closed things out down at the line.

"I feel like this is a really good early-season win for us," said Iowa coach Lisa Bluder. "We shot the ball so poorly, which is so uncharacteristic of us. But we got to the free throw line, and we did a good job on the boards."

Gutting through a choppy first half required Clark to dial in on what was working rather than worry about what wasn't. Repeated hard drives into the lane hunting — and finding — contact don't pop on the highlight reel the way deep heaves and swishes do, but Iowa needed its superstar to make due regardless.

"Just the way they were calling the game, they decided to call the game close on both ends of the floor. So why not drive and make the ref call a foul?" Clark said. "We went 18-for-22 at the line, which is pretty good.

"I thought we had a lot of really good looks (from deep). A lot of mine felt like they were going in, and Gabbie (Marshall) said the same thing (after going 0-for-6 from deep). Sometimes, that's the hardest thing to do as a shooter — continuing to shoot when the ball doesn't go in. At the same time, I thought we drove to the basket very well."

Clark trotted to the locker room at the halftime break with 18 points on 15 shots, having made just one more field goal (6) than free throws (5). Still, Iowa owned a 33-32 intermission advantage despite missing its final 13 treys to close the first 20 minutes of action.

The Hawkeyes knew this experience would be a crucial building block in this much-anticipated campaign. Finding a way to gut through an up-and-down offensive night wasn't atop the list of expected lessons to learn coming in, but Iowa and Clark made it work like they have so many times before.

"This very much had feelings of postseason play," Bluder said. "Without a doubt. Playing in this arena, having a great crowd."

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 X at @Dargan_Southard.