Deadeye, Hawkeye 🎯

03/27/2023 Deadeye, Hawkeye 🎯

By: Jeff Yoder

Caitlin Clark Fires Historic 41-Point Triple Double; #2 Iowa & #3 LSU Secure 1st Half of Women’s Final Four

 

Half of the Women’s NCAA Final Four is locked, and there’s history on both accounts. Kim Mulkey is leading LSU to the Final Four in Year 2, and Caitlin Clark overwhelmed the scoreboard to send Iowa to their first Final Four in 30 years . Both UConn and Notre Dame were knocked out in the Sweet 16 by Big Ten teams. Here’s how the first half of the Women’s Final Four came to be with two more games tonight.

 

#3 LSU def. #9 Miami (54-42)

The 3-seed LSU and head coach Kim Mulkey outlasted 9-seed Miami in a slug-it-out defensive struggle. The Tigers won the scoreboard in every quarter, but they did most of the damage just before and after halftime. Angel Reese was dominant despite not scoring well from the field. She tallied 13 points, 18 boards, four assists, three steals and two blocks while Alexis Morris dropped a game-high 21 points. Mulkey — who left Baylor for LSU — enters her 12th Final Four eyeing her fourth title. She’s leading LSU to Dallas in Year 2 with nine new players, and that’s astonishing. LSU awaits the winner of Virginia Tech and Ohio State.

 

#2 Iowa def. #5 Louisville (97-83)

Take a bow, Caitlin Clark! Iowa’s sharpshooter poured in the first 40-point triple double in women’s NCAA Tournament history (41-12-10). She went 8-for-14 from 3-point range. Louisville’s star Hailey Van Lith went for 27 in the loss. The Hawkeyes slow-danced with the Cardinals for the first half and led by just five at the break, but a 30-16 third quarter padded the cushion. It’s Iowa’s second Final Four appearance and their first since 1993. Iowa awaits the winner of Maryland and South Carolina.

 

Tonight’s Schedule (Elite 8)

#1 South Carolina vs. #2 Maryland (7:00 pm ET)

#1 Virginia Tech vs. #3 Ohio State (9:00 pm ET)

 

Additional Storylines

SI: Caitlin Clark Records Historic Triple-Double to Lead Iowa to Final Four

Yahoo! Sports: LSU, Kim Mulkey Turn Doubt & Unknowns Into Final Four Berth

 

Photo: C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images