Cleveland, OH—-Caitlin Clark defied the odds once again. Clark put Iowa on her back in the second half but it wasn’t pretty initially.
Struggling to find her rhythm in the initial half, the standout figure in women’s collegiate basketball now faces her final challenge with Iowa, aiming to clinch the Hawkeyes’ maiden national championship.
Clark’s resilience shone as she poured in 21 points, punctuated by three pivotal treys propelling Iowa past Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies 71-69 in the women’s Final Four showdown.
“We got some good looks. They just didn’t go in. And sometimes that’s just what happens,” Clark said. “We missed some easy bunnies around the rim. But I think the best thing about our group is we went into the locker room at halftime and it wasn’t, like, oh, come on, you’ve got to make shots. It was, no, stop turning the ball over and you’re going to be perfectly fine.”
Next on the agenda for the Hawkeyes (34-4) is a rematch against the undefeated South Carolina, a formidable opponent that suffered defeat at the hands of Iowa in last year’s national semifinals. Reflecting on the upcoming clash, Clark asserted, “South Carolina has been the top of the top. They’re in a different league. We’re going to do everything we can to try to be right there with them.”
After a sluggish start thwarted by UConn’s relentless defense, Clark, the NCAA Division I career scoring leader, ignited in the fourth quarter, spearheading Iowa’s surge with seven crucial points in the early stages, including her trademark step-back 3-pointer.
As tension mounted, Iowa managed to maintain a slender lead, ultimately securing victory amidst a nail-biting finale. Clark’s all-around performance, coupled with Hannah Stuelke’s 23-point contribution, propelled the Hawkeyes to seal the win.
Despite UConn’s valiant effort, led by Bueckers and Edwards, who each scored 17 points, the Huskies fell a little short, marking the end of their 14-season streak in the national semifinals.
Coach Geno Auriemma commended his team’s resilience despite facing adversity, acknowledging the missed opportunity with a tinge of disappointment.
Clark’s struggle in the first half underscored Iowa’s uphill battle, yet her unwavering determination kept the team afloat. Despite initial shooting woes, Clark’s leadership and resilience epitomized Iowa’s relentless pursuit of victory.
“Couldn’t be happier with our performance tonight in the second half,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “First half was a little rough for us. We really kept believing.”
With the national championship within reach, Clark and the Hawkeyes stand poised to etch their names in collegiate basketball history.
