In a game billed as the battle between college basketball’s biggest stars, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark shined the brightest.
Clark scored 41 points to lift the top-seeded Hawkeyes past defending champion LSU 94-87 in a rematch of the 2023 NCAA Tournament championship game. Iowa (33-4) advances to the Final Four for the second straight year and gains a measure of revenge against the team that knocked out the Hawkeyes in last year’s title matchup.
For the second consecutive year, Clark notched 40-plus points to seal an Elite Eight victory for the Hawkeyes. Last year, she scored 41 to beat Louisville. This year, she notched the same total. In addition, Clark tied the NCAA Tournament record with nine 3-pointers and broke open a 45-45 halftime score with four 3-pointers in the third quarter.
“This one probably feels a little better with it being my senior year,” Clark told ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the game.
IOWA IS HEADED TO THE FINAL FOUR.
The No. 1 Hawkeyes take down No. 3 LSU 94-87 to reach consecutive women’s Final Four appearances.@IowaWBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/uYrRYET5v0
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 2, 2024
Clark’s theatrics overshadowed a brilliant and tenacious performance by LSU superstar Angel Reese, who scored 17 points and grabbed 20 rebounds…
