Caitlin Clark had 41 factors and 12 assists in a sensational efficiency as Iowa knocked defending nationwide champion LSU out of the ladies’s NCAA Match with a 94-87 victory on Monday evening, advancing the Hawkeyes to their second straight Ultimate 4.
“This one in all probability feels just a little bit higher. It’s my senior yr, with this group,” Clark stated. “Lots of people counted us out at the start of the yr with the folks we misplaced. And all we did was work actually laborious. To get again right here is basically laborious. This regional was loaded with a lot expertise. The job’s not completed.”
Prime-seeded Iowa (33-4) will play within the nationwide semi-finals on Friday evening in Cleveland.
Monday’s extremely anticipated matchup was a rematch of final yr’s nationwide championship sport gained by LSU, which drew a document 9.9 million viewers. Each groups wished that this assembly had come later within the event as an alternative of with a Ultimate 4 berth at stake, however that was out of their management.
Clark, who additionally scored 41 factors within the regional finals final yr, and Angel Reese of LSU placed on a memorable present for the sold-out crowd and the tens of millions watching.
With the sport tied at 45-45 after an entertaining first half, Clark took over within the third quarter. The NCAA Division I all-time scoring chief hit 4 three-pointers, every deeper than the earlier one. Her fourth of the quarter, from her signature brand vary, made it 61-52. It additionally was the 538th of her profession which made her the all-time chief in that class amongst NCAA Division I gamers, passing Oklahoma’s Taylor Robertson.
Flau’jae Johnson scored 23 factors for LSU (31-6), who fell wanting changing into the primary repeat champion since UConn in 2016. Reese completed with 17 factors and 20 rebounds earlier than fouling out with 1:45 left.
Iowa’s lead ballooned to 65-52 earlier than LSU scored six straight factors. The Tigers trailed 69-58 heading into the fourth quarter earlier than scoring the primary 5 factors to get inside 69-63.
However they acquired no nearer as Clark wouldn’t let the Hawkeyes lose. Her ninth three-pointer, which tied the NCAA document for many in a event sport, made it 80-69 with 5:05 left. She pumped her chest as she ran again down the courtroom and yelled to the group.
“We actually knew it was on the defensive finish. We knew we had been going to have the ability to be high-quality on offense,” stated Clark, who was named the area’s Most Excellent Participant. “We’ve been high-quality on offense all yr. I believe it was simply getting stops and being bodily. They rebounded the ball rather well, however we weathered each storm. You’ve acquired to provide them quite a lot of credit score. They’d a fantastic yr.”
Clark has already declared for this yr’s WNBA draft. Reese, too, can have a call to make about whether or not to show professional or come again with yet one more season.
The sport acquired off to a fast begin and the primary quarter was an offensive clinic by each groups. Clark acquired the scoring going early, a lot to the delight of a pro-Iowa crowd. She hit a 3 to begin the sport, breaking a tie with Diana Taurasi for many three-pointers in NCAA Match historical past.
Iowa led 17-9 earlier than LSU coach Kim Mulkey referred to as a timeout. That appeared to settle her group down because the Tigers outscored the Hawkeyes 22-9 the remainder of the quarter behind Reese, who completed the opening 10 minutes with 10 factors, 5 rebounds and three assists to go together with two steals.
The Tigers acquired a scare within the second quarter when Reese went down attempting to dam Clark’s shot. She went down on the baseline and hopped off the courtroom. The trainers checked out her proper ankle and she or he rode a stationary bike for a couple of minutes earlier than returning to the sport. Reese was just a little slower getting up the courtroom however in any other case appeared unaffected.
Johnson made an acrobatic shot simply earlier than the halftime buzzer to tie the sport. Clark had 19 factors within the first half.