Iowa women’s basketball vs. Holy Cross, back in the NCAA Tournament

Caitlin Clark and No. 1 seed Iowa women’s basketball began their 2024 NCAA Tournament journey with a win against No. 16 seed Holy Cross today.

Check below and refresh the page to see game updates, highlights, analysis and memorable moments:

GAME STORY: No. 1 seed Iowa women’s basketball rolls by Holy Cross to open NCAA Tournament

More: Why Hannah Stuelke didn’t play in the second half Saturday for Iowa women’s basketball

FINAL: Iowa 91, Holy Cross 65

Terrific performances from Kate Martin (15 points, 14 rebounds), Gabbie Marshall (11 points) and Addison O’Grady (14 points).

Q4/3:14 Iowa 84, Holy Cross 61 – Benches come in

This one is all but over.

Clark finished with 27 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Q4/7:58 Iowa 77, Holy Cross 50 – Hawkeyes ready for touchdown

Iowa began the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run, effectively squashing any chance of a Holy Cross comeback.

Clark got two easy buckets and is up to 25 points.

The Hawkeyes outrebounded Holy Cross 45-29.

End 3: Iowa 71, Holy Cross 50 – Martin dominating the glass

Kate Martin has been stellar today and has 15 points and 13 rebounds. Her performance is even more impressive considering she suffered a hard fall in the first half and slammed her head on the court.

Clark hasn’t played her best but is still flirting with a triple-double (21 points, nine assists, eight rebounds). She was better in the third quarter, more easily able to get to her spots and shoot clean looks.

Q3/3:02 Iowa 68, Holy Cross 46 – Stuelke yet to play in 2nd half

Iowa has this game all but wrapped up, but starting center Hannah Stuelke has yet to enter the game since exiting in the second quarter with two fouls.

The broadcast has not provided any detail on Stuelke’s status or why she has not re-entered the game.

Q3/5:22 Iowa 63, Holy Cross 41 – Clark frustrated

Although the Hawkeyes are winning the third frame 15-11 and hold a 22-point lead, Clark hasn’t had an easy day scoring or moving are the court in general.

She still has 16 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but she’s shown visible frustration all afternoon and just headbutted the ball out of bounds after being forced to call a timeout when getting triple-teamed.

Halftime: Iowa 48, Holy Cross 30 – Hawkeyes dominant

Iowa won the second quarter 25-9, displaying its typical offensive dominance even without Clark (2-for-8 shooting) in rhythm.

The Hawkeyes stumbled out of the gate due to rust and Holy Cross’ physical style of play, but they quickly adjusted and took better care of the ball.

Still, six turnovers by Clark and nine total by the team is too many. If the team limits giveaways and continues to take and make 3s in the second half, it should cruise to victory.

Q2/4:29 Iowa 38, Holy Cross 24 – Hawkeyes back in-sync

After a slow start, Iowa’s offense is starting to look like itself again. The Hawkeyes are 6-for-11 from behind the arc and have tallied nine assists on 10 shots made.

Hannah Stuelke is the lone player who hasn’t found her rhythm yet and was forced to exit earlier this frame after picking up her second foul.

Also, Martin came back into the game after gathering himself for a few minutes on the bench.

Q2/7:57 Iowa 28, Holy Cross 21 – Clark, Martin take hard hits

Clark got hit in the face, and replay review determined the foul to be excessive and gave Iowa two free throws and the ball. She made both.

A few plays later, Kate Martin lost her balance on a drive to the basket and slammed the back of her head on the court. She was down briefly before being escorted to the bench on her own power, where Martin is being looked at by the team’s trainers.

End 1: Iowa 23, Holy Cross 21 – Both offenses clicking

Three consecutive triples by Holy Cross’ Bronagh Power-Cassidy kept her team right with Iowa’s hot streak, but the Hawkeyes gained control throughout the frame.

Clark is off to a slow start with five points and as many turnovers, but her circus-shot and-1 near the end of the frame might be enough to get her going.

Hannah Stuelke has been quiet with zero points and one rebound.

Q1/2:51 Iowa 18, Holy Cross 11 – Hawkeyes wake up

Despite Clark going to the bench for an early breather and mental reset, the Hawkeyes came out of the game’s first timeout with a renewed energy, leading to an 8-0 run.

Addison O’Grady provided a spark off the bench with four quick points, including a fast break layup off a Clark-like lead pass from Gabbie Marshall.

Kate Martin also got her scoring started with a triple.

Q1/4:39 Iowa 10, Holy Cross 11 – Hawkeyes rusty?

It’s been a sloppy start for the Hawkeyes, potentially because of the 12-day layoff between the Big Ten Tournament championship and this game.

Clark already has four turnovers, while the opposition has none.

The good news for Iowa is that Gabbie Marshall has been involved early and is 2-for-2 from behind the arc.

2:12 – We’re underway!

The game has tipped off and the Hawkeyes are ready to play in front of their home fans.

Will Iowa women’s basketball beat Holy Cross today?

As everyone has seen through the first few days of both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament, there is no way of predicting what will happen.

But the Hawkeyes are a staggering 39-point favorite today against Holy Cross and are -500000 to win, according to Draftkings. Those are some of the most one-sided betting lines you’ll find in any college basketball game.

Is Molly Davis playing today for Iowa women’s basketball?

Starting guard Molly Davis has been sidelined with a knee injury since the Hawkeyes’ final regular-season game, and although the team was initially hoping for her to return by the start of the NCAA Tournament, she still has not yet been cleared to play.

Still, Davis was optimistic about her recovery on Friday.

“Everything’s improving little by little, and I’m excited,” Davis said in her first interview since a very public, very painful twist of her knee and fate on senior day, against Ohio State on March 3. “This week’s been really good .”

FULL STORY: Leistikow: A ‘really good’ week for Molly Davis as Iowa women prepare for Holy Cross

Iowa’s Molly Davis is upbeat as she tries to return to the NCAA Tournament

Davis injured her knee three weeks ago and is going through some of her process in getting back onto the court (hopefully).

How to watch Caitlin Clark today: Iowa vs. Holy Cross NCAA women’s tournament

More: How to watch Iowa women’s basketball vs. Holy Cross in the NCAA Tournament today

Iowa women’s basketball vs. Holy Cross game preview

Who are Holy Cross women’s basketball’s best players?

• Scoring leader: Bronagh Power-Cassidy (16.8 PPG)
• Assist leader: Kaitlyn Flanigan (4.4 APG)
• Rebounding leader: Simone Foreman (8.6 RPG)

Where is Holy Cross College?

The College of the Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Gus Martin is a Digital Producer/Content Director for The Des Moines Register. Follow him on X at @GusMartin_DMR.