CLEVELAND, OHIO – 1-Seed Iowa (34-4) dropped 3-Seed UConn (33-6), 71-69, inside a sold-out Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Friday night to advance to the 2024 National Championship.
Iowa fell behind early by double digits but clawed their way back into this ugly game. Later, Iowa built their own double-digit lead and was able to hang on for the win.
National Player of the Year, Caitlin Clark became the first player in NCAA history to record 1,200+ points in a single season.
Clark has registered 461 points, 147 assists (NCAA record), 73 3-point field goals (NCAA record) in 16 career NCAA Tournament games.
Iowa overcame its largest deficit of the season. (12)
It marked Iowa’s first win over UConn since the 1990-91 season.
Lisa Bluder is 1-of-27 Division I women’s basketball coaches to win 20+ games in the NCAA Tournament at one institution.
This marks Iowa’s second trip to the national title in program history.
The Hawkeyes tied Purdue (1998-99) and Maryland 2014-15) for most wins in conference history. (34)
Iowa is eyeing the Big Ten’s first national championship in women’s basketball since Purdue won it in 1998-99.
Iowa is first Big Ten team to compete in two consecutive national title games.
Iowa has made 83 three-point baskets in postseason play. Since 2019, the Hawkeyes are 16-4 in the NCAA Tournament.
Over the last two seasons, Iowa is 20-2 in a tournament setting.
Bluder has the 10th most wins in Division-I women’s basketball history and is third among active DI head coaches (884).
Bluder is 23-17 all-time in NCAA Tournaments at Iowa.
Iowa is 7-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 Seed.
Kate Martin and Clark have started 138 consecutive games together the longest streak by any Division I duo in the last 25 years.
UI is 2-1 all-time in national semifinal matchups.
The 20+ point performance was the eighth of her career.
Gabbie Marshall is 26-of-57 from deep over the last eight games.
Clark, Marshall and Martin have started 134 games together, the second-most of any trio over the last 25 seasons.
Over the last two seasons, Iowa has won 65 games, which is the best two-year stretch in program history.
The Hawkeyes have made 417 treys this season, which is a Big Ten single season record.
Among active players who didn’t transfer, Marshall (129) and Martin (126) are third and fourth nationally for most active wins in a career.
Clark leads the country in 20+ point games this season with 38.
Clark is the only player in the country with 1,200+ points, 325+ assists, and 275+ rebounds this season.
Clark has scored 20+ points in 123-of-138 career games which is the most in program history.
Clark kept her streak alive of 94 consecutive games making a 3-point basket. (NCAA best)
Clark is the first Division-I men’s or women’s player to record 3,900+ points, 1,100+ assists, and 950+ rebounds in a career.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will face 1-Seed South Carolina on Sunday, April 7, in Cleveland inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. (CT) and will air nationwide on ABC.
