(CNN) 鈥� University of Iowa superstar became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women鈥檚 basketball in signature fashion Thursday night 鈥� with a flurry of baskets and a deep, deep 3-pointer.
Clark, 22, surpassed 鈥檚 previous record of 3,527 career points in the first quarter of a home game against the Michigan Wolverines, briefly putting the contest on hold as teammates swarmed to hug her and the crowd gave a rousing ovation.
Needing eight points to break the record heading into Thursday鈥檚 game, she accomplished the feat just over two minutes in, scoring her team鈥檚 first three buckets including the memorable record-breaker: a long 3-pointer from near the center court logo on a fast break.
A celebration was planned for after the game, an announcer in the arena said.
Clark scored 23 points in the first quarter, which ended with the Hawkeyes leading 33-22.
Before the game, Clark said she was excited and 鈥渘ot anxious鈥� about potentially setting the record.
鈥淚鈥檓 not anxious about it really at all. I鈥檓 just very excited. It鈥檚 going to be a special night,鈥� the 22-year-old said at the Hawkeyes鈥� weekly news conference.
鈥淚 understand the magnitude of this,鈥� she added. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just kind of come along with how my four years have gone. It鈥檚 crazy looking back at how fast everything鈥檚 gone. I鈥檓 just really thankful and grateful.鈥�
Clark already was the only Division I women鈥檚 player to have reached 3,000 points and 1,000 assists, and recently became the Big Ten Conference鈥檚 all-time leading scorer when she passed Ohio State鈥檚 Kelsey Mitchell.
Two-time WNBA champion Plum, a former Washington Huskies star, had already congratulated Clark on social media a few days ago, but later added that she had done so too early.
Ticket demand for Thursday鈥檚 historic game in Iowa City skyrocketed ahead of the contest. According to online ticket marketplace , the overall average purchase price of a seat was $394 and the 鈥済et-in鈥� price was listed as $337, 206% more expensive than the same game back in November.
TickPick also said that this was the second most expensive women鈥檚 basketball ticket in history behind what could be Clark鈥檚 last career regular season home game against the Ohio State Buckeyes next month.
When asked if she ever thought she could be in a position to set the record, Clark said before Thursday鈥檚 game: 鈥淚鈥檓 somebody that has really big dreams, goals and aspirations, but I think to put it on this level and this magnitude, that would be crazy for me to say. So I would say, 鈥楴o.鈥�
鈥淏ut obviously, I dreamed of doing really big things 鈥撀爌laying in front of big crowds, going to the Final Four, maybe not quite on this level.聽I think that鈥檚 really hard to dream and, obviously, you can always exceed expectations, even your own.聽I think that鈥檚 been one of the coolest parts.鈥�
Clark is projected to be selected first overall by the Indiana Fever if she enters the 2024 WNBA draft, though she has the option to remain at the collegiate level for an additional year due to the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on prior NCAA seasons.
This season, Clark and Iowa are looking to end the season on a high by claiming a first ever women鈥檚 basketball national championship.
The Hawkeyes reached their first ever title game last year but were .
The-CNN-Wire
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