Caitlin Clark scores 41 points to exact retribution on LSU. “We want this to go on forever.”
Albany, New York — Caitlin Clark may make all the promises in the world that she hasn’t been thinking about this rematch with LSU, ruminating on how close she was to winning a national title, and preparing a plan to get revenge on those who denied her.
Her gameplay suggested differently.
On Monday night, Clark was at her very best. She was putting out three consecutive logos, making brilliant passes to her teammates, and not letting LSU ruin her chances of winning the championship. That rivalry everyone speaks of, and her indignation at losing? Monday night was a singe for LSU.
“Iowa is our main concern. We’ll win because we do what Iowa does, Clark remarked afterward. It isn’t related to last year. You’ll become mired in the past if you obsess over it too much. It’s all about being where your feet are and being in the moment.”
Those feet were squarely in the path of LSU on this particular night. The all-time top scorer in college basketball contributed to almost every Iowa play in the 94-87 victory, which wasn’t nearly as close as the score suggested.
With the exception of seven of Iowa’s 32 field goals, she either scored or assisted on all of them. She finished with 41 points, 12 assists, and was just three rebounds shy of a triple-double.
Her body check on Angel Reese beneath the hoop in the second quarter sent her adversary from last year’s title game sliding off the floor and into a camera guy. Even though Reese returned to the game soon after rolling her ankle, which she had hurt in the SEC tournament, she and LSU were never the same.
She simply elevates everyone in her vicinity and is a generational player. The finest ones do it, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey said of Clark.
The Hall of Fame coach gave Clark the highest praise during their brief exchange in the line for the handshake.
“How did I address her? “I’m so glad you’re leaving,” I said. stated Mulkey. “Girl, you got something else,” I remarked. Never seen anything comparable to that.”
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On Friday night, Iowa will take on UConn in the Final Four. That will be repeated once more, in Clark’s first year. The Sweet 16 matchup between rookie sensations Clark and Paige Bueckers was anticipated to be fierce, yet UConn prevailed easily, 92–72.
We were a youthful group. We were inexperienced,” Clark remarked.
They currently do. And those experiences—especially the setbacks—have made Clark and Iowa more resolute. Nothing more than losing the championship game the previous year.
Clark scored thirty points in that LSU defeat. However, Reese outwitted and outplayed her and the Hawkeyes. Outshone as well, with Reese becoming well-known after the game when she gave Clark her ring finger.
Everything was done with a competitive atmosphere, which was excellent for the game. It skyrocketed interest in women’s basketball and turned Monday’s rematch into a must-watch television event. It’s unusual for sequels to surpass their predecessors, and highly anticipated games never live up to the anticipation. This one exceeded expectations.
Many thanks to Clark.
With a terrific 23-point performance, Flau’jae Johnson nearly single-handedly kept LSU in the game throughout the second half. Reese fouled out in the fourth quarter after finishing with 17 points and 20 rebounds. Iowa was crushed by LSU in both the paint (44-36) and the glass (54-36).
However, it wouldn’t have mattered if every player for the Tigers had scored in double digits. Clark was that determined.
With such intensity, her eyes were virtually cracking as she stared straight through the LSU players. Do you recall when she brushed off Raven Johnson during the Final Four victory over South Carolina, who was undefeated at the time? The third quarter included one much more brutal scene.
Clark intercepted Flau’jae Johnson’s throw as LSU was already reeling and took it. She seemed like she was ready to pull up for another one of those logo threes as she sprinted down the floor. Rather, with 4:03 remaining in the quarter, she threaded the ball past Reese to Sydney Affolter, who placed the ball up and over Reese to put the Hawkeyes ahead 63-52.
Clark was the Hawkeyes’ supernova, and the rest of them fed off him. With her quick breaks 21 points and six rebounds, Kate Martin was able to wear out the injured Reese. Maintaining her super-sub form, Affolter scored 16 points on 5 of 10 shots. Despite only making one field goal—a 3-pointer—Gabbie Marshall displayed her signature lockdown defense.
Early in the fourth quarter, Johnson made an effort to pull her team back into the contest, and LSU closed the gap to just ten points. Clark claimed that although it could have startled other teams, the Hawkeyes were aware of such runs to come.
They told themselves not to celebrate. Avoid being sucked into your feelings, as LSU will use them.
“I feel like that’s what I’m the proudest of throughout these last two games, just being calm, cool, collected, and dialed into what we need to do,” Clark stated. “I don’t give a damn about what the opposition team does. It doesn’t concern me what call the referee makes. Iowa’s needs are a concern of mine.”
She also consistently delivered. With 5:05 remaining, Clark sank a 3-pointer from the concourse to give Iowa a lead of 11 points and essentially secure the victory. She turned to face the Iowa supporters and let out an almost primal scream. She let her guard down for a few seconds, letting off a year’s worth of yearning and wrath.
She had lost to Reese and LSU once. She refused to allow them to repeat their actions.
“We do intend to claim the national championship. That’s probably what a hundred other Division I basketball teams said as their seasons got underway, according to Clark. “Many people have disappointing outcomes. And I believe that’s what motivates you since you were so near last year.
“That’s the reason we’ve been able to play such good basketball,” she stated. “We don’t want this to end.”
Lowa and Clark are still in the game. She saw to it that way.
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