Iowa’s Caitlin Clark has taken the sports world by storm over the last four years as an Iowa Hawkeye and is averaging 32.4 points, 7.9 assists, and seven rebounds per game this season. However, it’s time for Penn State women’s basketball to try to stop her.

The Lady Lions will make their way to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for a matchup with Clark and the No. 2 Hawkeyes at 9 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, and head coach Carolyn Kieger knows the tough test this game will bring.

“They just really play well off each other,” Kieger said. “I think Iowa’s done a really good job buying into their identity. They don’t try to do what they’re not good at. I obviously have a lot of respect for Lisa [Bluder] and how she’s built Iowa up.”

There’s no denying that much of the program Bluder created at Iowa stems from the success Clark has brought to Iowa City.

She is only 66 points away from becoming the NCAA’s all-time female leading scorer, but there is more to Clark’s game than just scoring.

“Caitlin is ahead of her time. She is a once-in-a-generation player, and she’s just a winner,” Kieger said. “She sees the game two steps ahead of everybody else. It’s rare that you have an elite scorer with the vision that she has, and the ability to make others around her better, so she’s electric.”

Clark isn’t the only player that has led Iowa to a 21-2 overall record while being 10-1 in Big Ten play, as Kate Martin and Hannah Stuelke are also averaging over 12 points and six rebounds per game, and Kieger recognized their combined efforts.

“Her teammates are such good complement pieces to her. They have amazing chemistry,” Kieger said. “[Clark] and Kate Martin have been playing together for all four years, and they have telepathic moments with backdoor cuts.”

Along with success, Clark and her teammates have brought recognition like never before to the school. Last year, Iowa averaged a crowd of 11,143 at home games, the second-most in the nation. Before this season, the team played in the university’s Kinnick Stadium and hosted 55,646 fans to break the all-time attendance record in NCAA women’s basketball.

“Phenomenal opportunity to go to Iowa to play in an atmosphere like that. You got to talk about the fan base. What they built and what the Caitlin Clark effect is amazing for women’s basketball. It’s amazing for college basketball,” Kieger said. “I mean, she’s selling out road arenas which is unheard of. The Caitlin Clark effect is real, and I have tons of respect for her and what she’s done for the game.”

Kieger is also looking forward to having the game broadcast on the Big Ten Network and believes it provides an opportunity for everyone involved to showcase who they are and what they’re capable of.

“Anytime you can get the word out about a program that’s on the rise and share our story as well as Caitlin Clark’s story is good for Penn State, it’s good for the Big Ten, it’s good for women’s basketball in general,” she said. “I love that our student-athletes have that platform to show what they’ve been working on and compete against the best.”

After a six-game win streak brought the Lady Lions’ record to 16-5, it was snapped against Michigan 80-75 in their last outing, but Kieger and her coaching staff made adjustments and are optimistic heading into Thursday’s game.

“This team has been through so much, but I think this team is ready to rise again. It’s an awesome opportunity to come off a loss with a chip on your shoulder to go into Carver-Hawkeye Arena and showcase what we have,” Kieger said.

Despite it being an up-and-down season for Penn State, Kieger has led the Lady Lions to their first winning record in eight years and acknowledged the program’s development.

“This is awesome to show how much this team has improved over the course of the last year and to prove that this is a different team. This is a different season,” the fifth-year head coach said. “I just am really excited because I think we match up well with [Iowa], and I’m excited to see how we step up.”