DALLAS, TEXAS – Heavy underdog Iowa dropped #1 South Carolina in a Final Four game Friday night, 77-73, to advance to the Championship game Sunday versus LSU.
Iowa (31-6, 15-3) was nearly a 12-point betting underdog entering the game versus South Carolina (36-1, 16-0), but another 41-point performance from Caitlin Clark plus tenacious defense put the Hawkeyes over the top in this game.
This will be Iowa first ever appearance in the National Championship.
Clark has 161 points and 52 assists in this NCAA Tournament. Since 2000, it’s one of six instances of a player having 150 points and 50 assists in ANY 5-game span. All six of those belong to Clark.
Clark also broke the Big Ten single season record for most points.
She became the sixth Division I women’s basketball player to eclipse 1,000 points the same season.
Clark has registered back-to-back 40-point performances.
77 points tied for the most South Carolina has given up this season.
Iowa has shot 50% or better from the field in in 19 of its last 24 quarters.
In postseason play, Gabbie Marshall is 23-47 from 3-point range.
Iowa tied the all-time series against South Carolina, 1-1.
First time in program history Iowa knocked off the No. 1 team in the nation.
Clark is the second player to score 40 points or more in an NCAA Women’s Final Four game. (National or Semis)
Clark broke Iowa’s record for most 3-pointers made in a career.
Iowa led the game for 35:53.
Clark, Czinano, Marshall, Martin, and Warnock have made 91 starts together, the most out of any DI women’s basketball team in the 20 seasons.
Sixth AP Top-10 victory this season.
Iowa is 14-4 all-time as 2-Seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Iowa’s 31 wins this season is the most in program history.
Clark is the only player in the nation with more than 1,000 points, 240 rebounds, 310 assists, and 45 steals this season.
UP NEXT
2-Seed Iowa will face 3-Seed LSU on Sunday, April 2 inside the American Airlines Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (CT) on ABC.
