Women’s NCAA Tournament Recap: Caitlin Clark Lifts Iowa to Final Four after LSU Advances

In a thrilling day of NCAA women’s basketball tournament action, two teams advanced to the Final Four. The Iowa Hawkeyes, led by national player of the year candidate Caitlin Clark, defeated the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines in a nail-biting 79-57 victory. Meanwhile, the LSU Tigers secured their spot in the Final Four with a 71-62 victory over the perennial powerhouse, the Baylor Bears.

Clark’s performance in Iowa’s victory was nothing short of historic. The junior guard from West Des Moines recorded the 11th triple-double of her career and became the first player in NCAA Tournament history to record a 40-point triple-double. With less than a minute remaining in the game, Clark secured her 10th rebound to complete the feat, which included 42 points and 11 assists.

Clark’s triple-double was all the more impressive given the circumstances. Facing off against the tournament’s top-seeded team, she proved to be a one-woman wrecking crew, putting up points and setting up her teammates for easy baskets. Clark had already tallied her 17th double-double of the season and 43rd career before the end of the third quarter, demonstrating her all-around skill and dominance on the court.

Meanwhile, LSU’s victory over Baylor was no less impressive. The Tigers, led by senior guard Khayla Pointer, held off a late surge from Baylor to secure their spot in the Final Four. Pointer finished the game with 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while her teammate, freshman forward Faustine Aifuwa, added 16 points and 11 rebounds.

With these two victories, Iowa and LSU join the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Stanford Cardinal in the Final Four. The semifinals will take place on April 1st, with Iowa set to face off against South Carolina and Stanford taking on LSU. The winners will advance to the championship game on April 3rd, where they will compete for the NCAA women’s basketball title.

As the tournament continues to unfold, fans can expect more thrilling moments and unforgettable performances from some of the top women’s basketball players in the country. And with Clark and Pointer leading the way, Iowa and LSU will be formidable opponents for anyone looking to claim the championship.