IOWA CITY, Iowa — The end was near.
The score was tied. Just over 2 minutes left. West Virginia held the ball and momentum. Carver-Hawkeye Arena held its breath.
After a block by Iowa’s Gabby Marshall, the Hawkeyes got the ball back. Caitlin Clark stood nearby, preparing to decide whether to continue her senior season.
She raised her hands and asked for the ball. It didn’t arrive. There, the all-time leading scorer in Division I history stretched his arms as high as he could and begged him to unleash another unforgettable 3-point dagger in his final home game.
“I thought they had left me in a transition period,” Clark said. “I just stood there, kind of alone.”
Thousands of people turned their attention to Clark. Sidney Affolter looked at the rim.
“I saw an opportunity,” Affolter said. “I knew I was taking it into the hole.”
In the decisive moment of the University of Iowa’s victory over the University of West Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, it was the junior guard who had become the starter earlier this month due to an injury to Molly Davis that lit up Iowa City. Iowa clinched the tie-breaking 3-point play with 2:03 left and a 64-54 victory.
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“Sid did the right thing,” Clark said. “She’s very crafty around the rim and she played her heart out tonight, which is what she’s been doing since earning her starting role.
“She’s got a temper. She’s not afraid of the moment. She’s tough. And she gives us one more. I’m just happy for her. She deserves it. She’s worked hard and never had a lot of time to play. She was playing behind some really good players, but this is her moment. And she rises to the occasion.”
Affolter had 13 points, his second-highest score of the season, and seven rebounds while making 4 of 6 from the field and making all five of his free throws.
“It’s really difficult for Sid to have to step into a starting position at this time of year,” coach Lisa Bruder said. “That can throw off the tempo of a lot of teams. But I think our team always had a lot of respect for Sid and what she brought.”
