Caitlin Clark and No. 1 seed Iowa women’s basketball have dethroned 2023 national champion and No. 3 seed LSU, this time in the 2024 NCAA Tournament Elite 8.
Clark was terrific with 41 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. She also tied the NCAA Tournament record for 3s made in a game with nine, and broke the NCAA record for triples made in a career (540), and set tournament records for made 3s and assists.
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GAME STORY: Caitlin Clark guides Iowa women’s basketball back to the Final Four with win over LSU
A truly tremendous performance by Iowa has the team back in the Final Four.
The Hawkeyes will play the winner of No. 1 seed vs. No. 3 seed UConn, which will begin shortly after this game on ESPN.
Although Hannah Stuelke fouled out, so did Angel Reese.
Iowa has all but won this game and should advance to the Final Four.
Doing well to use the clock and still score at a high rate, Iowa should pull out the win and avenge last year’s championship loss.
Kate Martin (17 points) and Sydney Affolter (14 points) made several key plays.
Clark can’t stop hitting deep, momentum-swinging 3s. She’s now 9-for-18 from behind the arc and has 37 points, as well as 10 assists and seven rebounds.
It seems like every time LSU goes on a small run, Clark strikes back with a back-breaking triple from near the logo.
This is shaping up to be one of her best performances of the season.
Iowa is in the driver’s seat, Clark has a hot hand and LSU is making increasingly more mental mistakes.
But both teams have key players with three fouls, and if one side is able to sideline players from the other, that leads to significant advantages in this final frame.
If Clark is on the floor, though, Iowa should be OK. She’s been amazing and has 31 points and eight assists.
Iowa is winning the third frame 20-7, passing and moving with purpose while LSU appears uncertain and tense.
The Hawkeyes fans have also started executing unified chants in support of their team.
Iowa has done a great job on freshman forward Aneesha Morrow. She’s 3-for-11 from the field.
With her seventh triple of the game, Clark broke the NCAA record for most 3-pointers made in a career (538).
She has been stellar to start the second half, single-handedly extending Iowa’s lead on offense while her teammates clamp down defensively.
Multiple LSU guards are also now in foul trouble.
Clark started the third quarter by making a deep, deep triple, and she forced a timeout after hitting a step-back 3.
She now has 25 points and is 5-of-10 from deep, playing much better and more efficiently than she did in this matchup a season ago.
The bad news for Hawkeyes fans is that Hannah Stuelke quickly went to the bench after picking up her third foul.
What a game this has been this father.
Iowa punches first, LSU punches back, and the sides trade punches all the way until the halftime buzzer.
Clark was terrific (19 points, 5 assists), combating Angel Reese (13 points, 8 rebounds), but the supporting Hawkeyes went cold over the final few minutes of the half.
Sydney Affolter (10 points) has once again been a huge addition to the starting lineup and hit a pair of triples. Kate Martin (5 points) and Hannah Stuelke (6 points), however, will need to be bigger contributors over the final 20 minutes.
LSU won the rebounding battle 23-16. That is a margin to monitor.
Angel Reese, after fouling Clark on a layup, fell into camera row and appeared to suffer a lower body injury.
She hopped to the sideline, where she was examined, appeared to be in pain but never went to the locker room. Reese soon returned to the game and scored on her first touch, but is still visibly hobbled.
For Iowa, Hannah Stuelke got going with a pair of free throws and a layup, and Clark, after missing her last few shots, came through with a momentum-swinging triple in transition. She has 15 points.
Both teams appeared to have either initial runs, and now the sides are going back and forth.
LSU took full control of the game over the final three minutes with a 10-0 run. Angel Reese did the bulk of the damage on both ends and already has 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The Tigers’ size advantage also gave Iowa fits as the Hawkeyes lost the rebounding battle 12-5.
Clark did well with 11 points and three assists, but must continue to make 3s at a high clip while holding LSU to one shot each possession.
LSU came out of its timeout refocused and with more emphasis on shooting near the rim. It worked, slowed the game down and halved its deficit.
But the Hawkeyes are still red-hot from deep. They’ve made 5-of-7 triples so far, with Clark, Gabbie Marshall Kate Martin and Sydney Affolter all contributing.
It’s been an extremely exciting and offense-heavy start.
Clark got the game started with a 3-pointer on Iowa’s first possession and scored a layup a couple of possessions later. She took the Hawkeyes’ first three shots, clearly trying to set the tone.
But the highlight of Iowa’s hot start was Clark breaking an LSU player’s ankles before hitting her second triple.
Iowa is establishing a fast pace, trying to dictate a play style that benefits the Hawkeyes and not the bigger, slower Tigers, who typically dominate the paint.
Tip-off has begun and the team’s will battle for a spot in the Final Four against the winner of USC vs. UConn, set to be played after this game’s conclusion.
Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese history explained
As there was entering last season’s NCAA Tournament championship game, the Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese discourse has dominated women’s college basketball discussion as the two prepare to meet again.
Several reporters have even compared them to the Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird’s college rivalry of the late 1970s, which helped spark the nation’s obsession with basketball in the late 20th century.
But more specifically, Clark and Reese appeared contentious in last year’s finals, with Reese taunting Clark in celebration of LSU’s victory. Both players have since expressed respect and admiration for each other, but both players are elite, competitive and exhibit contrasting styles, which makes them easy for fans and media to put against one another.
Tonight will almost certainly mark the final collegiate matchup of the two superstars as both are expected to enter the 2024 WNBA Draft.
More: Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese, explained: Iowa, LSU basketball stars to rematch in March Madness
Is Molly Davis playing today?
Molly Davis has not played since suffering an injury in the Iowa women’s basketball final regular-season game.
She is once again not expected to play tonight.
But Sydney Affolter has been terrific in her absence, blossoming in a newfound starting role. In six postseason outings, Affolter is averaging 13 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
Full story: Sydney Affolter’s breakout is changing the game for Iowa women’s basketball: ‘My time’s now’
Iowa women’s basketball fans are ready for a rematch with LSU
See photos of the top Hawkeyes fans as they get ready for tonight’s game.
What channel is Iowa women vs. LSU on today? How to watch, stream live
Iowa will tip off vs. LSU on ESPN. Streaming options include Sling TV. Announcers for the game are Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe.
More: What channel is Iowa vs LSU women on today? Time, TV schedule for March Madness game
Iowa women vs LSU start time, TV info, location
- Start time: 6 pm CT Monday, April 1
- TV info: ESPN
- Location: MVP Arena in Albany, NY
Iowa women vs. LSU game preview
Iowa vs LSU odds, betting line, spread
Odds according to BetMGM
- Spread: Iowa -2.5 (+100), LSU +2.5 (-120)
- Above/below: 167.5
- Moneyline: Iowa (-130), LSU (+110)
Iowa women vs LSU prediction, game picks
Iowa 92, LSU 89 — Although the Tigers have a physical matchup advantage over Iowa, the Hawkeyes are coming off their best performance of the tournament, while LSU might be more fatigued after a short turnaround from their grueling win over UCLA. Caitlin Clark has also regained her rhythm and the team around her is as confident as ever.
More: Iowa women’s basketball vs. LSU in March Madness: Who has the edge in 2024 NCAA Tournament Elite 8
Iowa women vs LSU stats
Iowa
- PPG: 91.9
- PPG allowed: 71.1
- FG%: 50%
- 3PT%: 37.7%
- NET ranking: 5
LSU
- PPG: 85.9
- PPG allowed: 62.5
- FG%: 46.5%
- 3PT%: 32.7%
- NET ranking: 8
Iowa women vs LSU championship odds
Odds according to BetMGM:
Iowa women’s basketball schedule 2023-24
The past five games of the Iowa women’s 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here
- March 30 vs. Colorado (W, 89-68)
- March 25 vs. West Virginia (W, 64-54)
- March 23 vs. Holy Cross (W, 91-65)
- March 10 vs. Nebraska (W, 94-89 OT)
- March 9 vs. Michigan (W, 95-68)
LSU women’s basketball schedule 2023-24
The past five games of LSU women’s 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here
- March 30 vs. UCLA (W, 78-69)
- March 24 vs. Middle Tennessee (W, 83-56)
- March 22 vs. Rice (W, 70-60)
- March 10 vs. South Carolina (L, 79-72)
- March 9 vs. Ole Miss (W, 75-67)
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Gus Martin is a Digital Producer/Content Director for The Des Moines Register. Follow him on X at @GusMartin_DMR.
