– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
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ALBANY, NEW YORK — For all of the weight she’s had to carry on her shoulders in the middle of the most historic season by an individual in women’s college basketball history, Caitlin Clark knew that the heaviest burden to try and haul was nigh: a rematch against the school that denied her and her squad a national championship one year ago, and with a spot in the national semifinals no less.
The transcendent Clark admitted that tonight was not a revenge game, and with that not weighing her down, she was free to let the shots fly and the passes flow — and so many of those flicks of the wrist hit their targets, and the Hawkeyes are now back in the Final Four.
Clark dazzled in the most-anticipated college basketball game of the year to date, scoring 41 points with 12 assists and seven rebounds, leading top-seeded Iowa to a 94-87 victory over No. 3 seed LSU in the Albany 2 Regional Final inside MVP Arena in Albany. The Hawkeyes will make their third Final Four appearance in school history, with the last two coming in back-to-back seasons.
The first possession of the game was a good omen for the Hawkeyes, as Clark nailed a 26-foot three-pointer — one of nine threes that Clark drained on the evening. On her way to winning the region’s Most Outstanding Player, the record-setting Clark did more of the same, setting NCAA Tournament records for most career assists and three-pointers, while setting the new record for most three-pointers made in a career.
“I think that just speaks to the confidence I have in myself, the time I put in the gym. I know I’m ready for this moment,” Clark said. “I thought my shot felt good in warmups. It certainly helps when you make your first 3 as a shooter, when you can see the ball go in.”
Somehow, the hype of the game involving the presumptive Player of the Year, Clark, and last year’s Most Outstanding Player, LSU forward Angel Reese, was exceeded by the high level of play, particularly in the first half when both teams scored 45 points by the intermission.
*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Monday’s game, with photos taken by ALOST staff photographer Scotty Rausenberger. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 30 pictures in total.
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