SEATTLE — Caitlin Clark Played explosively with 41 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to help the 2nd seed Iowa beat the fifth seed Louisville 97-83 on Sunday and take the Hawkeyes to their first Women’s Finals in 30 years.
The All-American First Team unanimously prevailed as she went all-season to take the Hawkeyes to Dallas for the NCAA Women’s National Semifinals Friday night. The Seattle 4 Regional Champion will face the Greenville 1 Regional Champion with South Carolina playing maryland on the second night.
Iowa (30-6) hasn’t made it to the Finals since Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer led the team to a solo appearance in 1993. Before Sunday, the team had only attended one Elite Eight. another – in 2019 – since that quarterfinal team.
Clark has her 11th career double and 19th in women’s NCAA tournament history. She also had the first 30- and 40-point double in tournament history.
“I think our team played really well. That’s what it’s all about. I’ll give the team everything I have,” said Clark, the region’s best player. “When I got here, I said I wanted to make this show into Round 4 Finals, and all you have to do is dream. And all you have to do is believe and give your best effort. That’s what I did, and that’s what our girls did and that’s what our coach did and we’re going to Dallas, baby. “
With a five-point lead in the first half, Louisville cut the deficit to 48-47 before Clark and the Hawkeyes scored the next 11 points in the 17-6 round to open the game. That got the majority of the pro-Iowa crowd of nearly 12,000 fans to their feet.
Louisville went 22 behind with less than six minutes left before going on to run 13-1 to win the round 86-76 with 2:10 remaining. The Cardinals could not have come any closer.
Clark left the match with 22.7 seconds left and hugged coach Lisa Bluder.
“We may not be the sportiest, we may not be the fastest, we may not be the best defenders, but we play for each other,” Clark said. That will take you very far.” “That’s all about it. Our relationship is very close and more than anything we are best friends. That will take you a long way.”
Hailey Van Lith scored 27 points and Olivia Cochran had 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead Louisville (26-12).
