Pride wrap up preseason with exhibition against Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Getting a chance to highlight the women's basketball scene in the state of Iowa, the Clarke University women's basketball team faced off against the University of Iowa on Sunday in an exhibition contest.

The reigning NAIA National Champion were able to share the preseason stage with the 2023 NCAA DI National Runner-Up and the arguably most popular women's basketball player in the country, Caitlin Clark, before beginning their NAIA schedule in 10 days.

The Hawkeyes ran away with the game to a 122-49 final as the Pride gained some momentum as the game went on with their best two scoring quarters in the second half with 15 in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth while Iowa scored nearly the same total every quarter from 29 to 32 over the four quarters.

Mya Merschman and Nicole McDermott finished as the lone scorers in double figures for Clarke in the game as Merschman led the way with 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds while McDermott had 10 points while adding three assists and two steals.

Clark finished the game as the Hawkeyes second-leading scorer with 24 points while adding nine assists as the game's leading scorer was Iowa's Hannah Stuelke who scored 27 and added 10 rebounds on the day.

The Pride will open up their regular season on the road on Nov. 1 when they travel to Davenport, Iowa to take on St. Ambrose University for a 7:00 p.m. CT tip against the Fighting Bees.