Caitlin Clark, impressive with 41 points and 9 triples, took revenge this Monday against LSU, which left her without a title in the NCAA final last year, and led Iowa to the Women’s Basketball Final Four with an 87-win. 94. Considered the most important star of university sports in the United States at the moment and called to mark a before and after in women’s basketball, Clark gave a fabulous recital and finished with 13 of 29 in field goals (including a 9 of 20 in triples), 6 of 7 from the line, 7 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 steals and a block. This is Clark’s last chance to win the NCAA title since she has already announced that she will make the jump to the WNBA, where in all likelihood the Indiana Fever will choose her number one in the draft. “This time (in the Final Four) I probably feel a little better because it’s my senior year (…), but the work is not finished,” said Clark, very smiling, in statements to the ESPN network as soon as the end of the game. game against LSU.
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Clark, excited after the meeting.SARAH STIERAFP
Clark, an extraordinary offensive talent with an amazing ability to score from the outside, at the beginning of March became the leading scorer in the history of college basketball (men or women), surpassing the record held by Pete Maravich since 1970. In 2023 , Iowa lost the title to LSU in a final that left moments of fierce competitiveness (and a certain dose of controversy) between Clark and Angel Reese, another enormous promise in women’s basketball. Reese, who has not yet announced whether she will leave for the WNBA this year, was LSU’s best tonight with 17 points, 20 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks. This new face to face between Clark and Reese, which was played in Albany (New York, USA), was experienced with enormous expectation in the United States within a March Madness with the public more attentive to the women’s competition than the masculine.
The Clark Exhibit
Clark hit her first triple as soon as the game began and dictated the pace of the Hawkeyes, who gave shape to an excellent and very inspired start (17-9 with 6.03 left). LSU was choked by Iowa’s zone defense, but it didn’t take them long to react thanks to Reese, omnipresent whether rebounding, stealing balls or scoring in the zone. With all this and a partial 0-10, LSU turned the score around and closed the first quarter ahead (26-31) in what was already a high-profile confrontation between the two main stars: 11 points and 3 assists for Clark for 10 points and 5 rebounds for Reese.
The Tigers’ figure gave a scare in the second quarter when he hurt his ankle, but after a brief rest on the bench he was able to return to the court. The game continued to be a give and take of furious attacks and without time to take a break, although the success rate decreased compared to the first quarter. Several sparks from Clark, who found a way to be a threat both on the outside and attacking the rim, gave Iowa back control, but a basket by Flau’jae Johnson at the buzzer for LSU left the match in a draw (45- 45) after a vibrant first half. On the way to the locker room, Clark had 19 points and 5 assists while Reese had 13 points and 8 rebounds.
Clark uncorked the second half just as he had started the game: with a three-pointer from very far away. He didn’t stop there and after stunning Hailey Van Lith he nailed another wonderful triple almost stepping on the central logo that sent LSU to the corner (55-49 with 8.02 on the clock). Iowa had switched to man defense and LSU had a hard time adjusting. Meanwhile, Clark continued to do his thing with heavy artillery from the perimeter and also assisting his teammates when their rivals closed in on her.
The wind was blowing in favor of the Hawkeyes against the Tigers with many problems scoring, with difficulties in getting the ball to Reese, no longer so dominant in rebounding and with signs of haste in some plays. The score of 69-58 at the end of the third quarter left LSU on the ropes. Those from Louisiana tried to react in search of the epic, but each triple by Clark was a blow to their increasingly touched comeback spirit. There was no miracle for LSU, which also lost Reese due to fouls in the outcome, and Iowa with Clark at the helm will have the chance to win the NCAA title in the Final Four to be played from April 5 to 7 in Cleveland.
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2024-04-02 13:35:14
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