ALBANY — The top-seeded University of Iowa women’s basketball team downed third-seeded LSU, 94-87, on Monday night in a National Championship rematch at MVP Arena. The Hawkeyes advance to the second straight Final Four and third in program history.
National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark will Iowa to the victory, finishing with 41 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. The West Des Moines, Iowa, native added three more records to her ledger – career NCAA Division I 3-point field goals made, career NCAA Tournament 3-point field goals made and career tournament assists.
Iowa had two additional Hawkeyes finish in double digits with Kate Martin scoring 21 points and Sydney Affolter adding 16.
Clark downed a 3-pointer in the first 15 seconds of the game and Iowa got off to a quick start, building a nine-point lead. LSU responded with a 10-0 run to close the quarter, giving the Tigers a 31-26 advantage. LSU won the rebounding battle, 12-5.
The second quarter went back-and-forth as the two teams went into the half tied at 45. Clark scored 19 points in the first half.
Clark came out sizzling in the third quarter, draining an early 3 to spark a 13-4 Iowa run. She made four 3s in the quarter to break the the women’s basketball NCAA 3-point career record. The Hawkeyes kept their foot on the gas to close out the third quarter, building a 69-58 lead.
Clark made six 3s in the second half (and nine for the game) and Martin had a quarter high 10 points in the fourth, helping the Hawkeyes advance to their second straight Final Four.
POSTGAME NOTES
– No. 1 seed Iowa (33-4) dropped third-seeded LSU (31-6), 94-87, inside a sold-out MVP Arena on Monday night to advance to the Final Four.
– The 33 wins this season ties for third-most in Big Ten history (Michigan State, 2004-05).
– National Player of the Year candidate, Caitlin Clark broke the NCAA’s all-time record for 3-pointers made (540) in a career (Taylor Robertson, Oklahoma).
– Clark broke her own program record for most made 3-pointers in a NCAA Tournament game.
– This is the 20th game that Clark had 30+ points and 10+ assists in her career. Clark has three 40-point double-doubles in an NCAA Tournament setting (Elite Eight, 2023; National Semifinal, 2023; Elite Eight, 2024).
– Clark has registered five 40-point performances against AP Top-10 teams.
– Lisa Bluder is 1-of-27 Division I women’s basketball coaches to win 20+ games in the NCAA Tournament at one institution.
– This marks Iowa’s third trip to the Final Four in program history and second under Bluder.
– Iowa is going to the Final Four in back-to-back seasons for the first time (1993, 2023 and 2024).
– Iowa has made 76 3-point field goals in postseason play.
– Since 2019, the Hawkeyes are 15-4 in the NCAA Tournament.
– Over the last two seasons, Iowa is 19-2 in a tournament setting.
– Clark broke the NCAA Tournament record for most assists (140) and 3-pointers (70) in 15 career games.
– Clark broke her own record for most assists by a Big Ten women’s basketball player in a single season.
– Bluder has the 10th most wins in Division-I women’s basketball history and is third among active DI head coaches (883).
– Bluder is 22-17 all-time in NCAA Tournaments at Iowa.
– Iowa is 6-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 Seed.
– Kate Martin and Clark have started 137 consecutive games together the longest streak by any Division I duo in the last 25 years.
– Martin has scored 15+ points in 17 games this season which is a career-best.
– Iowa is 3-3 all-time in Elite Eight matchups.
– Gabbie Marshall is 25-of-50 from deep over the last seven games.
– Clark, Marshall and Martin have started 133 games together, the second-most of any trio over the last 25 seasons.
– Clark registered her 67th career double-double.
– Clark is the second player in NCAA Tournament history to amass 350+ points and 115+ assists in career. (15 games)
– Clark has recorded 10+ assists in 8-of-15 career NCAA Tournament games, which is the best in school history.
– Clark’s eight games of 10+ assists in the NCAA Tournament are the most in DI women’s basketball since 2009.
– Over the last two seasons, Iowa has won 64 games, which is the best two-year stretch in program history.
– The Hawkeyes have made 410 treys this season, which is a Big Ten single season record.
– Sydney Affolter is 25-of-28 from the free throw line in the last seven games.
– Since Molly Davis’ injury, Affolter is 30-of-53 from the floor and 9-of-15 from 3-point range.
– Among active players who didn’t transfer, Marshall (128) and Martin (125) are third and fourth nationally for most active wins in a career.
– Clark leads the country in 20+ point games this season with 37.
– Clark is the only player in the country with 1,100+ points, 300+ assists, and 240+ rebounds this season.
– Clark has scored 20+ points in 122-of-137 career games which is the most in program history.
– Clark kept her streak alive of 93 consecutive games making a 3-point basket. (NCAA best)
– Clark is the first Division-I men’s or women’s player to record 3,800+ points, 1,100+ assists, and 950+ rebounds in a career.
