Iowa’s Caitlin Clark Electrifies With 41-Point Game to Overcome LSU for Final Four Spot
The Iowa Hawkeyes gained their revenge against the LSU Tigers, with Caitlin Clark’s 41 points leading the way to a 94-87 Elite Eight victory that advanced them to the Final Four.
Iowa lost the national championship to Angel Reese & Co. last season, but the top-seeded Hawkeyes were not having it this time. Of course, Clark had the most to say about it.
Clark was 13 for 29 from the field, including 9 of 20 from beyond the arc. LSU guard Hailey Van Lith had some real challenges on those shots, particularly the deep three-pointers Clark is known for, but all she could do was shrug as she watched them fall in. However, Clark wasn’t only launching shots in this game. She got teammates involved with 12 assists as she broke the NCAA Tournament lifetime record of 137.
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The game’s turning point came in the third quarter, when Flau’Jae Johnson’s spinning layup at the end of the first half tied it 45-45. Johnson led the Tigers with 23 points (10-of-18 shooting), six rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and one steal.
Iowa embarked on an 8-0 run to begin the third quarter, as LSU failed to convert their attempts. By the end of the quarter, Clark had made four of her nine three-pointers, and Iowa led by 11 points, 69-58, heading into the fourth.
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In contrast, the Tigers went 5-of-26 as a team in the third quarter. LSU outscored Iowa 29-25 in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough.
Reese got off to a fast start for LSU, helping them win the opening quarter 31-26. She shot 6-for-8 from the field, but she injured her ankle on a block attempt that forced her to bounce over to the bench in the second quarter.
After eventually returning to the game, Reese went cold as Iowa threw multiple defenders her way. She shot 1-for-13 from the field, finishing 7-for-21 with 17 points and a game-high 20 rebounds.
LSU outrebounded Iowa 55-37. However, they only shot 38.6% from the field, with Van Lith going 2-of-10, including 1-of-6 from three, for nine points, and freshman Mikayla Williams shooting 6-of-16 for 18 points.
Meanwhile, Iowa’s Kate Martin scored 21 points while shooting 50% from the floor (8-of-16). She had six rebounds and two steals as well.
Sydney Affolter, a Chicago native, also made 50% of her shots (5-of-10), scoring 16 points, including two three-pointers.