In a game billed as a battle between college basketball’s greats, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark was the standout performer.
In a rematch of the 2023 NCAA Tournament championship game, Clark scored 41 points to help the top-seeded Hawkeyes defeat defending champion LSU 94-87. Iowa State (33-4) advanced to the Final Four for the second straight year and got some revenge on a team that eliminated the Hawkeyes from last year’s title game.
Clark scored 40 or more points for the second straight year to seal the Hawkeyes’ Elite Eight victory. Last year, she scored 41 points in a win over Louisville. This year, she earned the same overall score. In addition, Clark tied the NCAA tournament record with nine three-pointers and opened the halftime score to 45-45 with four three-pointers in the third quarter.
“This is probably my senior year when I feel a little better,” Clark told ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the game.
Iowa State is headed to the Final Four.
The top-ranked Hawkeyes defeated No. 3 LSU 94-87 to advance to back-to-back women’s Final Fours.@iowawbb | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/uYrRYET5v0
— The Athlete (@TheAthletic) April 2, 2024
Clark’s drama overshadowed the brilliant, tenacious performance of LSU superstar Angel Reese, who finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Flau’jae Johnson scored 23 points to lead the Tigers (31-6).
With the win, Clark broke the NCAA women’s career record for three-point field goals made (540), passing Oklahoma’s Taylor Robertson (537). This was the 20th game in Clark’s career where he scored more than 30 points and had more than 10 assists. Clark also had three 40-point double-doubles in the NCAA Tournament (Elite Eight, 2023; National Semifinals, 2023; Elite Eight, 2024).
Iowa is seeking its first title and will face the winner of No. 1 USC and No. 3 Connecticut in the Final Four on April 5.
What this means for Iowa
As important as last year’s Hawkeyes victory against South Carolina in the national semifinals, this one means even more. The loss to LSU in the title game lasted a full year. It was a painful moment for both the post-game jeers and the on-field defeat.
This is the third time in the past five years that the Hawkeyes and coach Lisa Bruder have faced a Kim Mulkey-coached team with their season in jeopardy. The previous two games — against Baylor in 2019 and last year against LSU — were disastrous losses. This time, Iowa prevailed.
Bluder is the winningest coach in Big Ten history and now has her second team qualifying for the Final Four, a major milestone in her legacy. As for Clark’s legacy, she cemented a strong argument as the game’s greatest player.
What this means for Louisiana State University
The third-seeded Tigers were put to the test in the NCAA Tournament, having endured two tough games at home. Then, after beating UCLA in the Sweet 16, LSU seemed to be building momentum heading into this high-profile matchup. In the first half, the Tigers led by 8 points.
But then Angel Reese suffered an ankle injury that sidelined her and changed the momentum of the game. Reese continued to struggle for much of the game before fouling out, but it was clear the injury was taking its toll on her.
Defending a championship is difficult, and in a year with more distractions, LSU still competes at a high level. The biggest remaining unanswered question is whether Reese declares for the WNBA Draft or decides to stay in Baton Rouge. Regardless, the Tigers will remain a strong contender with Mulkey at the helm.
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(Photo: Sarah Steele/Getty Images)
