Caitlin Clark once again proved herself as the best player on the court by dropping 41 points to lead No. 1 Iowa to the Final Four after defeating No. 3 LSU in a close 94-87 victory. Clark, who is the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, was a first-team All-American for the third consecutive year and set numerous records during the game. It was her fifth 40-point game of the season, and she hit nine three-pointers for the third time. Despite her dominant performance, basketball Hall of Famer Paul Pierce expressed surprise at Clark’s ability to outshine the mostly Black players on the LSU team.
Clark’s impressive performance against LSU included 13-for-29 shooting from the field, making 9-of-20 three-point shots. LSU guard Hailey Van Lith tried to contest Clark’s shots, but the Iowa star continued to impress with her deep three-pointers. Iowa took control of the game in the third quarter, going on an 8-0 run and building an 11-point lead as Clark drained four of her nine threes in the quarter. Despite LSU’s efforts to make a comeback, they struggled to knock down shots and ultimately fell short.
In the Final Four, Iowa will face off against No. 3 UConn, led by standout Paige Bueckers, who recently put up 28 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in a game against USC. UConn will be a tough opponent for Iowa, but with Caitlin Clark leading the way, Iowa will be looking to continue their impressive run in the tournament. As the excitement builds for the Final Four matchup, fans and analysts alike will be eagerly anticipating the clash between two of the top teams in women’s college basketball.
