Caitlin Clark led Iowa again to the nationwide championship sport, scoring 21 factors because the Hawkeyes rallied previous Paige Bueckers and UConn 71-69 within the ladies’s Ultimate 4 on Friday night time.
Subsequent up for the Hawkeyes (34-4) is a rematch with unbeaten South Carolina, which misplaced to Iowa in final yr’s nationwide semifinals. The Hawkeyes then fell wanting successful the college’s first championship, falling to LSU within the title sport. Now Clark is one win away from bringing her dwelling state its first ladies’s basketball title within the remaining sport of her school profession.
After a tough opening half-hour due to a swarming UConn protection, the NCAA Division I all-time main scorer lastly acquired going within the fourth quarter.
With the sport tied at 51-all, Clark scored seven factors within the first 2 1/2 minutes of the interval to provide Iowa a small cushion. UConn (33-6) acquired inside 60-57 earlier than the Hawkeyes scored six straight to take a 66-57 benefit.
UConn trailed 70-66 earlier than Nika Muhl hit a 3-pointer after a steal with 39.3 seconds left to get the Huskies inside one.
Simply Hold Dancing 💃<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hawkeyes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#Hawkeyes</a> <a href=”https://t.co/GkP32GHqi9″>pic.twitter.com/GkP32GHqi9</a>
—@IowaWBB
Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke turned it over with 10 seconds left. UConn had an opportunity to take the lead, however Aaliyah Edwards was known as for an offensive foul whereas setting a display with 4.6 seconds left.
Clark made the primary of two free throws earlier than lacking the second. Teammate Sydney Affolter acquired the rebound and UConn tied her up, forcing a bounce ball. The possession arrow stored the ball with the Hawkeyes, who sealed the win by throwing the ball within the air to expire the ultimate seconds.
Stuelke scored 23 factors to steer Iowa. Clark completed with 9 rebounds and 7 assists.
However Bueckers, the nationwide participant of the yr as a freshman in 2021 who returned to that kind after lacking a whole season and a part of one other with accidents, carred the Huskies again into title rivalry.
UConn acquired going early behind Bueckers and stellar defence by Nika Muhl and her teammates, who swarmed Clark each time she touched the ball. The Huskies led by 12 factors within the second quarter.
Iowa trailed by six on the half earlier than getting going within the third quarter behind their star. She made her first 3-pointer of the sport 2 minutes into the interval, after which her four-point play acquired Iowa inside one. The Hawkeyes then took their first lead later within the interval proper earlier than Kate Martin acquired hit within the face by Edwards, leading to a bloody nostril. She ran off the courtroom, leaving a path of blood behind her.
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Martin was again on the Iowa bench earlier than that they had completed cleansing the courtroom. She then hit three huge baskets down the stretch.
Clark had a troublesome first half, scoring six factors whereas lacking all six of her 3-point makes an attempt. She barely acquired any open photographs and at instances regarded annoyed. Iowa’s coaches stored shouting phrases of encouragement to their generational participant.
Though she wasn’t scoring, Clark stored the Hawkeyes within the sport with six rebounds and 4 assists because the Hawkeyes trailed 32-26 on the break.
Cardoso leads Gamecocks to title sport
All-America centre Kamilla Cardoso scored 22 factors and unbeaten South Carolina prevented a second straight stumble within the ladies’s Ultimate 4, surging previous North Carolina State 78-59 on Friday night time.
The proficient and tenacious Gamecocks (37-0) led by one at halftime earlier than placing their full arsenal on show within the third quarter. They outscored the Wolfpack 29-6 to show what had been a tense matchup into one other blowout.
South Carolina superior to Sunday’s championship sport at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the place it is going to meet the winner of the second semifinal between Iowa and UConn — a matchup that includes stars guard Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers that has created a buzz throughout America.
Aziaha James scored 20 factors for No. 3 seed NC State (31-7), which knocked off a No. 1 and a No. 2 seed to get to Cleveland.
The Wolfpack had no shot in opposition to the Gamecocks, who have been a unanimous No. 1 a lot of the season within the AP High 25 and are aiming to turn out to be the primary undefeated nationwide champion since UConn in 2016.
Cardoso added 11 rebounds whereas enjoying simply 23 minutes. She harm her proper leg late within the first half and returned within the third quarter, carrying a black compression sleeve on the leg. She didn’t play within the fourth.
Ashlyn Watkins was simply as dominant inside for the Gamecocks, ending with 20 rebounds together with eight factors. Raven Johnson added 13 factors.
Not like a yr in the past, when South Carolina stormed into the Ultimate 4 in Dallas with an equivalent 36-0 document earlier than shedding to Clark and Iowa within the semis, the Gamecocks stored this season pristine.
The 6-foot-7 Cardoso made positive of it regardless of not transferring in addition to ordinary after the damage. South Carolina, which gained by a median of 29.6 factors this season, left little doubt after halftime, displaying its dominance to a sellout crowd and a nationwide TV viewers.
Te-Hina Paopao and Johnson made 3-pointers because the Gamecocks rapidly stretched their result in 10, they usually closed the quarter with a dizzying 17-1 run that quieted a rowdy NC State crowd.
It has been South Carolina all alongside.
These Gamecocks have dominated the roost with equal quantities of depth, expertise and swag.
Staley wasn’t positive what kind of staff she had when the season started after having to exchange 5 starters from final yr’s squad. She additionally frightened about her younger staff’s carefree perspective and whether or not this group would mature.
However not solely did the Gamecocks bond and get themselves collectively, they’re one win from cementing South Carolina as a dynasty.
Cardoso, who declared for the WNBA draft earlier this week, started to ascertain herself inside within the second quarter. The Brazilian scored South Carolina’s first 12 factors earlier than Johnson’s jumper put the Gamecocks up 30-24.
However on South Carolina’s subsequent possession, Cardoso tweaked her proper ankle on a drive and got here up limping. After struggling to get again on protection, she fouled to get a whistle so Staley might get her off the ground.