Well, it’s finally here.
The Iowa women’s basketball team will make its first Final Four appearance since 1993 when it takes on defending national champion South Carolina (36-0) tonight at approximately 8:30 on ESPN.
It’s certainly the biggest challenge the Hawkeyes (30-6) have faced this season. The Gamecocks have won 42 games since last year’s NCAA Tournament, and they look to extend that streak tonight.
Further:How to watch, stream and listen to Iowa women’s basketball in the NCAA Final Four
It will be a matchup between two Iowa superstars, Kaitlyn Clark, the reigning Naismith Player of the Year, and Aaliyah Boston, who won the award a season ago. The Hawkeyes come in as an 11.5-point underdog. According to DiBico Sports. It wasn’t a place they met often.
Follow this blog live as we bring you up-to-the-minute updates on what’s happening on the field in Dallas as the Hawkeyes look to make a trip to their first national championship game.
Iowa moved up to two with a 9.9.
Caitlin Clark made two free throws to bring her point total to 39, a national semifinal record for a player.
SC replies at the other end. But Gamecox must send someone to the line by mistake.
Iowa’s lead dwindled to just two
Aliyah Baston made one of two free throws to cut the Hawkeyes’ lead to 71-69 with 1:37 to play.
South Carolina is undefeated in 389 days. Will it change tonight?
South Carolina in the bonus, Clark frowning after the fall
From now on send all Iowa Foul Iowa Gamecocks to the line. There is only 1:42 left and the Hawkeyes lead 71-68.
Caitlin Clark appears to be clutching her left elbow after falling to the ground trying to retrieve the ball.
Iowa 67, South Carolina 64
Monica Sinano fouled out four times and Caitlin Clark three times. She made a crucial triple that now made the difference in the game. It was her fifth night. Clark had 33 points, eight assists and six boards.
The media remains in the possession of Gamecox at the end of the term. 5:52 left here.
Result 3: Iowa 59, South Carolina 55
Iowa hit the buzzer to extend its lead to four points, but South Carolina wasn’t going to give up. GameCox fell in the fourth quarter for the second time this season, so who knows how they’ll handle that kind of pressure on the game’s biggest stage.
If the Hawkeyes start drilling 3-pointers, this game is over. It was just 5 for 17 on the night from long range. A few more come in, and South Carolina can’t counter with their poor (2-of-15) shooting from beyond the arc.
We’re just 10 minutes away from the first trip to the national title game in program history. Can they stop the South Carolina charge?
Rebounding becomes a big problem for Iowa
The Hokies are now out 35-17 on the night. The lead continues to shrink and is now down to two points. Iowa needs to get some boards or start making 3s.
Caitlin Clarke had no luck tonight
Three of the superstar’s deep 3-pointers missed the rim, but he still scored 23 points. She was 3-for-11 from long range. Even on a non-shooting night, she shows how ridiculous a gamer she can be by her standards. The Hawkeyes lead by six points in a media timeout under 5 in the third quarter.
Three fouls from Monica Sinano, Aliyah Boston
The Iowa post player goes to the bench. It will be interesting to see how Iowa’s offense fares without her.
The big man from South Carolina is on the court, but he didn’t score any points tonight.
The second half is underway.
There’s a long way to go in this close game, but if Iowa holds off the reigning national champions, they’ll earn a berth in the national title game for the first time in program history.
Half: Iowa 38, South Carolina 37
This game certainly lives up to its billing. The Hawkeyes got off to a good start, but South Carolina pulled away. There were six lead changes late in the second quarter.
South Carolina’s rebounding advantage extends to 23-12 and the Gamecocks are 11-3 in the offensive class. South Carolina outscored Iowa 24-16 in the second quarter.
All in all, Iowa fans should be pretty happy with the first 20 minutes of basketball. Clark has 19 points and six assists so far. But one thing to keep in mind: South Carolina mounted that comeback with its best player on the bench. Boston and Clark enter the second half with two fouls. It will be an interesting story to watch in the next 20 minutes.
Caitlin Clarke points and Camcox finds the legs
Clark does what he does best: scoring and finding his open teammates. He already has 16 points and five assists. But South Carolina would weather the storm, outscoring the Hawkeyes 14-9 in the second period after a 5-under media timeout.
They are getting a lot of boards and are now outscoring Iowa 17-9 in the game. His depth could also cause problems for Iowa. The Gamecocks have 11 bench points and the Hawkeyes have 0.
Iowa sube 31-27
Gamecock blows repeatedly
South Carolina went on a 6-0 run in the final 17 seconds, including two layups and additional free throws. Caitlin Clark committed her second foul.
Result 1: Iowa 22, South Carolina 13
Clark led the way with 11 points and Monica Sinano had six more. The Hawkeyes made their last four shots from the field.
Iowa was 10-7 and 5-3 in the offensive class. It’s not great, but it’s nowhere near the dominance Gamecox normally has in that field.
Two mistakes already in Boston
The Hawkeyes went on a 7-0 run to lead 20-11. Superstar Aaliyah Boston was also fouled for the second time and she made her way to the bench.
Clark drills one deep
Caitlin Clark hit her first 3-pointer of the night and was fouled by Aaliyah Boston.
The Hawkeyes led 11-6 with just over four minutes left in the first frame. But hockey fans beware. South Carolina is known to get off to a slow start early in this matchup, so they could get off to a quick start.
some nerves at first
It took both teams over two minutes to get on the board, but Caitlin Clark finally broke the deadlock with a layup. It’s still early days, but the way Iowa handles South Carolina on the glass will be something to watch. We’re almost five minutes into the game and GameCox doesn’t even have an attack board.
we are underway
South Carolina wins the lead and the Hawkeyes’ journey to the Final Four is underway. Let’s be a little happier.
The opening sequence looks like what you’d expect.
Support in Dallas is close to splitting
Our reporters on the ground at the Final Four say the packed house to watch this match is sharply divided. The Hawkeyes could have a little more noise, but fans from both teams traveled to the Lone Star State.
Iowa women’s basketball heads to Dallas
It is almost here. The Hawkeyes are now on the court for the biggest game of their lives.
LSU ranks first in Sunday’s title game
The Tigers edged out Virginia Tech 79-72 in the first national semifinal. If the Hokies can pull off a stunning upset tonight in South Carolina, they’ll lead LSU and three-time national title-winning coach Kim Mulkey to a national championship on Sunday afternoon.
Now it takes about 30 minutes to see the Hawkeyes.
How to watch the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Final Four
We are 30 minutes from the scheduled start between Hawkeyes and Gamecocks. The real fun starts with this live blog.
Even if you’re not lucky enough to be in Dallas, if you can still sit back and watch the game on TV, you can tune in to ESPN for the action.
Hawkeyes are comfortable with a laid back mindset
Iowa isn’t particularly used to coming into the game playing the underdog role this season. After all, they are the No. 3 team in the nation in the most recent coaches’ poll. GameCox is a different beast though and was a double digit favorite tonight.
However, that did not worry the Hawkeyes. Our women’s basketball writer Dargan Southard spoke to the players about it. This is what sniper Gabby Marshall had to say.
«Personally, I love being the loser. We have nothing to lose and a lot to prove. Going out and knowing that we have nothing to lose, (South Carolina) should have won this game. We have to play hard to win that game.
“It’s going to be hard, but we can do it.”
Check out the rest of that story below.
Further:With ‘nothing to lose, everything to prove’, Iowa women’s basketball heads to South Carolina clash
A battle of superstars between Iowa and South Carolina
Iowa and Gamecox both have superstars on the roster who have garnered the nation’s attention in the past two years. The Hawkeyes have Naismith Player of the Year Kaitlyn Clark while South Carolina has last year’s POY in Aaliyah Boston.
The two play in very different spots on the court, with Clark dominating from the perimeter while Boston is a threat in the paint. However, they are the players who make their teams work. See what each of them brings to the table in the story below.
Further:Superstar comparison: How Iowa’s Kaitlyn Clark stacks up against South Carolina’s Aaliyah Boston
The Hawkeyes have been here 30 years.
This marks only the second trip to the Final Four in program history for the Iowa women’s basketball team. The first was in 1993, before this live blogger was even born.
Earlier this week, our staff discussed both Iowa teams’ paths to the Final Four. Watch the story below.
Further:Iowa women’s basketball made it to the Final Four in 1993. How do their careers compare?
LSU hosts Virginia Tech at 6 p.m.
The Hawkeyes don’t land for another two hours, but fans can make an early scouting report on a potential national title game opponent by watching this game.
Also, keep an eye on LSU coach Kim Mulkey. Not only is he a three-time national title-winning trainer, he’s also a fashion icon. The dress he’s wearing tonight matches his granddaughter Sage.
