ALBANY, N.Y. — Caitlin Clark had another amazing performance to help Iowa reach its second consecutive Final Four.
The star player for the Hawkeyes, known for her record-breaking achievements, made nine 3-pointers and ended with 41 points and 12 assists in Iowa's 94-87 win over defending national champion LSU in the NCAA Tournament on Monday night.
“It’s wonderful to be back in the Final Four. It’s really difficult to get back there,” Clark said. “This region was really tough, but we reminded ourselves that we are the number one seed for a reason.”
Iowa, as the top seed with a 33-4 record, will face UConn in the national semifinals on Friday night in Cleveland.
Monday's highly anticipated game was a rematch of last year's national championship game, which was won by LSU and drew a record 9.9 million viewers.
Both teams wished this meeting had occurred later in the tournament rather than with a Final Four spot at stake, but that was beyond their control.
Clark, who also scored 41 points in last year's regional final, and LSU's Angel Reese provided an unforgettable performance for the sold-out crowd and the millions watching.
“I think it’s fantastic for the sport, to be part of history. Regardless of the outcome tonight, I knew this was going to be a memorable night,” said Reese, who had 17 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out with 1:45 left. “Being part of history is great. Playing against another great player is always amazing.”
Clark has already declared for this year’s WNBA draft. Reese, too, will have a decision to make about whether to turn pro or come back for another season.
With the game tied at 45 after an entertaining first half, Clark took over in the third quarter. The NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader hit four 3-pointers, each from a greater distance. Her fourth of the quarter, from her signature range, made it 61-52. It also was the 538th of her career, making her the all-time leader in that category among NCAA Division I players, surpassing Oklahoma’s Taylor Robertson.
“There’s not a lot of strategy. You’ve got to guard her. Nobody else seems to be able to guard her,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. “We didn’t even guard her last year when we beat them. She’s just a once-in-a-generation player, and she just makes everybody around her better.”
Flau’jae Johnson scored 23 points for No. 3 seed LSU (31-6), which fell short of becoming the first repeat champion since UConn in 2016.
Kate Martin scored 21 points for Iowa and Sydney Affolter added 16.
Iowa’s lead increased to 65-52 before LSU scored six straight points. The Tigers were behind 69-58 going into the fourth quarter before scoring the first five points to get within 69-63.
But they couldn't get any closer, as Clark wouldn't let the Hawkeyes lose. Her ninth 3-pointer, which tied the March Madness single-game record, made it 80-69 with 5:05 left. She celebrated by pumping her chest as she ran back down the court and cheered to the adoring crowd.
Clark said she was excited for a moment. When playing against a team like LSU, she believed they never give up, regardless of the time or score. She warned not to start celebrating or getting too emotional because LSU will fight until the end.
The game started quickly, and the first quarter showcased strong offensive performances from both teams. Clark delighted the pro-Iowa crowd by scoring early. She made a 3-pointer to start the game, surpassing Diana Taurasi for the most 3-pointers in women’s NCAA Tournament history.
Iowa was leading 17-9 before Mulkey called a timeout. After that, the Tigers outscored the Hawkeyes 22-9 for the rest of the quarter, led by Reese who accumulated 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals within the opening 10 minutes.
In the second quarter, the Tigers faced a scare when Reese got injured trying to block Clark’s shot. She rolled her right ankle on a TV camera on the baseline and had to leave the court. After a few minutes of checking by the trainers and riding a stationary bike, she returned to the game. Although she appeared slightly slower, she seemed otherwise unaffected.
Johnson made a skillful shot just before the halftime buzzer, tying the game. Clark had scored 19 points in the first half.
MORE CLARK RECORDS
Clark broke the NCAA Tournament assists record of 136 previously held by Temeka Johnson of LSU, reaching 140. Additionally, she matched Courtney Moses of Purdue in 2012 and Kia Nurse of UConn in 2017 with her nine 3-pointers.
Clark mentioned that her shot felt good during warmups and it helped to make her first 3-pointer as a shooter. Making her first shot at the beginning of the second half also contributed, as she got some good looks from 3.
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Before last season, the Hawkeyes had only reached the national semifinals once, in 1993.
