Earning a game-high of 29 points, Caitlin Clark led Iowa to a triumphant 89-68 win against Colorado in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, paving the way for a matchup with defending titleholder LSU in the Elite Eight.
Despite falling short of their regular season scoring average of 92.0 points per match, top-seeded Iowa (32-4) showcased remarkable offensive prowess against the fifth-seeded Buffaloes (24-10).
Clark spearheaded a line-up of double-digit scorers for the Hawkeyes, securing six rebounds and dishing out 15 assists. Sydney Affolter contributed 15 points, with Gabbie Marshall and Kate Martin each providing 14, and Hannah Stuelke contributing 11 points along with grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.
In the upcoming clash on Monday against LSU (31-5), who defeated UCLA 78-69 earlier on Saturday, fans eagerly anticipate a rematch of last year’s national championship game, where the Tigers triumphed 102-85.
In that game, Clark tallied 30 points and eight assists, while LSU’s standout Angel Reese made a significant impact with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
No. 3 LSU 78, No. 2 UCLA 69
Flau’Jae Johnson led the Tigers with 24 points and 12 rebounds, as Angel Reese added 16 points and 11 boards, propelling them to the Elite Eight showdown against Iowa on Monday.
Nearing the finish, with UCLA briefly taking a 67-64 lead, they struggled to score, managing only two successful free throws till the final minutes. Aneesah Morrow contributed 17 points for the victorious Tigers (31-5).
The Bruins (27-7) were aiming to secure their third-ever spot in the Elite Eight, having previously done so in 1999 and 2018. Leading the scoring were Lauren Betts, with 14 points, 17 rebounds, and four blocks, alongside Londynn Jones and Gabriela Jaquez.
PORTLAND 3 REGION
No. 1 Southern California 74, No. 5 Baylor 70
JuJu Watkins had an outstanding performance with 30 points, including scoring nine of the Trojans’ last 10 points, to secure the win over the Bears in Portland, Oregon.
Rayah Marshall grabbed 16 rebounds and chipped in 11 points, while McKenzie Forbes added 14 points for USC (29-5), setting up a face-off with UConn (32-5) in the Elite Eight on Monday.
Baylor, seeded fifth, saw Sarah Andrews contribute 17 points, with Jada Walker adding 15 points, and Dariana Littlepage-Buggs chipping in 12 points along with 11 rebounds.
No. 3 UConn 53, No. 7 Duke 45
Paige Bueckers displayed a stellar performance with 24 points, guiding the Huskies past the Blue Devils at the Moda Center and setting up a crucial match against top-seeded USC on Monday for a chance to advance to the Final Four.
UConn (32-5) showcased exceptional defense throughout the game, securing their 12th consecutive victory. The Blue Devils (22-12) struggled, shooting 32.7 percent from the field, making only 4 of 19 attempts from beyond the arc, and committing 23 turnovers.
Their offensive struggles led to a mere 13 points in the first half, marking their second-lowest scoring game of the season.
Despite shooting at 40 percent from the field, the Huskies had a lower percentage in 3-point shots compared to Duke (3 of 16, 18.8 percent). However, they managed to establish a commanding 20-point lead in the third quarter and successfully repelled Duke’s late-game surge, led by Oluchi Okananwa‘s 15 points.
