CLEVELAND — Undefeated and top-ranked South Carolina defeated the second-ranked University of Iowa women’s basketball team, 87-75, on Sunday afternoon in the NCAA Championship game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark scored a game-high 30 points, five assists and eight rebounds in her final game as a Hawkeye. Kate Martin added 16 points and five rebounds to close out her career, and Hannah Stuelke finished with 11 points.

The Hawkeyes came out hot, going on a 10-0 run in the first two and a half minutes of the game. The Gamecocks cut Iowa’s lead to two before Clark scored on back-to-back possessions to give Iowa a 27-20 lead at the end of the quarter. Clark drained three triples as a part of her 18-point explosion in the first.

The Gamecocks went on a 7-0 run to start the second to tie the score at 27. There were five ties and two lead changes in the frame before South Carolina drained a three and snagged a steal and score in the closing seconds to go into halftime with a 49-45 lead.

South Carolina scored three quick buckets to start the second half to build a nine-point lead. The Hawkeyes rallied to within two with 4:44 left before the Gamecocks pulled away, building a 68-59 lead going into the final 10 minutes.

Despite being down 14 with 7:40 left, Iowa made one final push, using a pair of free throws by Sydney Affolter and 3s from Clark and Gabbie Marshall cut the lead to six. Iowa got to within five, but South Carolina pulled away to finish the season as undefeated National Champions.