The rematch of final 12 months’s nationwide championship sport between LSU and Iowa lived as much as the hype in each manner.
However the blockbuster rematch had a special consequence, as Iowa knocked off the defending nationwide champion LSU Tigers 94-87.
With this loss to Iowa, the Tigers’ season involves an finish. They end the season with a document of 31-6.
The sport featured two of the pioneers which might be paving the best way within the girls’s school basketball revolution: LSU’s Angel Reese, and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.
The rematch had arguably a number of the most hype within the historical past of girls’s school basketball. And when their groups wanted them, they confirmed up.
However as the 2 stars confirmed up and scored at a excessive stage, their groups did as nicely.
It was an offensive slugfest
LSU completed the sport scoring 34-for-88 (38.6%) from the sphere, and 8-for-24 (33.3%) from three. The Tigers needed to implement their 3-point shot to maintain up with Iowa each scoring smart and depth smart.
Alternatively, Iowa completed scoring 32-for-69 (46.4%) from the sphere, and 13-for-31 (41.9%) from three.
“It is wonderful to be again within the Closing 4,” Clark stated. “LSU’s a very good crew, they’re onerous to protect, they’re actually good gamers.”
When LSU wanted her most, Reese got here by. She completed the sport scoring 17 factors together with 20 rebounds, 4 assists, two steals and three blocks.
If this certainly was Reese’s final sport in an LSU uniform, she actually went out on a excessive be aware.
Nonetheless, Iowa contained Reese within the second half, as she shot 1-for-11 from the sphere after halftime and fouled out of the sport with just below two minutes left within the sport.
Iowa wanted Caitlin Clark simply as a lot, and he or she additionally delivered with 41 factors and 12 assists. She shot 13-for-29 from the sphere, 9-for-20 from three, and 6-for-7 on the foul line.
“Caitlin’s very expert. She’s an important participant. She hit some robust pictures,” Hailey Van Lith stated. “There’s not lots you are able to do with a number of the pictures she hit.”
It wasn’t simply Reese and Clark, nonetheless.
Flau’jae Johnson continued to play a few of her greatest basketball this NCAA Match. She completed with 23 factors, taking pictures 10-for-18 from the sphere together with six rebounds and two assists.
Mikaylah Williams was proper there with Johnson, scoring 18 factors together with seven rebounds. Williams shot extra threes so as to sustain with Iowa’s fast-pace offense, as she shot 4-for-8 from three and 6-for-16 from the sphere.
Aneesah Morrow scored 14 factors together with 14 rebounds, and Van Lith added 9 factors, taking pictures 1-for-6 from three.
However Iowa’s offense was simply as efficient alongside Clark.
Kate Martin scored 21 factors together with six rebounds. She shot 8-for-16 from the sphere and 4-for-4 on the foul line.
Sydney Affolter completed with 16 factors together with 4 rebounds. She shot 5-for-10 from the sphere and 2-for-3 from three.
Hannah Steulke added eight factors and 5 rebounds.
Clark discovered her 3-point shot when Iowa wanted her to
Whereas Clark and Iowa’s offensive assault actually saved the Hawkeyes within the sport, Clark’s 3-point shot was what the Hawkeyes wanted to get separation from LSU.
Within the third quarter, she discovered it higher than she had all sport.
Clark shot 6-for-12 from three within the second half. With how constant Clark was and has proved to be, and partnered together with her ball distribution, LSU didn’t have a lot of a long-term reply.
“There’s not an entire lot of technique. You bought to protect her, no person appears to have the ability to guard her,” Mulkey stated. “She’s a generational participant. She makes everybody round her higher. That is what the good ones do.”
LSU’s offensive rebounding saved it within the sport
LSU’s offensive rebounding was its X-Issue. The Tigers grabbed 22 rebounds on offense in comparison with Iowa’s six.
Reese had 10 of these 22 rebounds, and Morrow had 5.
However general, LSU’s rebounding was its power simply because it was all season. With Iowa’s fast-pace offense, and their frequent perimeter pictures, the Tigers knew rebounding could be one thing they will depend on.
The Tigers outrebounded Iowa 54 rebounds to 36.
Well timed turnovers and well timed fouls for LSU
LSU completed the sport with 13 turnovers in comparison with Iowa’s 12.
The turnovers had been well timed, and Iowa took benefit. The Hawkeyes outscored LSU 14-6 in factors off turnovers.
Williams and Johnson every had three turnovers, and Morrow, Van Lith and Reese every had two.
As well as, fouls had been expensive to LSU. Iowa completed 17-for-22 on the foul line (77.3%) in comparison with LSU’s 11-for-17 on the foul line (64.7%).
Reese fouled out of the sport with 1:45 left in regulation, and Johnson completed the sport with 4 fouls.
What’s subsequent?
Iowa will now advance to the Closing 4 in Cleveland, Ohio. It’ll tackle No. 3 seed UConn, which suggestions off at 8:30 p.m. on April 5.
For LSU, this loss marks the start of the offseason, which proper now might look unclear.
However first, the query marks shift towards Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith. The 2 seniors each have a 12 months of eligibility to return to LSU, however they will additionally take their skills professionally or elsewhere.
A solution received’t come instantly. However for proper now, it’s a ready sport to see if LSU’s stars will return to Baton Rouge.
“These younger folks could have a reminiscence of being part of one thing this nice tonight,” Mulkey stated. “I am unable to describe to you the way good girls’s basketball is correct now. I want this might’ve been a Closing 4 sport.”
