The 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament came to a close Sunday with the highly anticipated national championship game, as No. 3 LSU took down No. 2 Iowa, 102-85, to cash in for its first title in program history.
LSU’s 102 points are the most in a women’s championship game, previously set by Texas in 1986 (97 points). The Tigers are also the first to score 100-plus points in a women’s final.
LSU star forward and All-American Angel Reese set an NCAA record for the most double-doubles in a single season (34) with her performance in the title game, while Jasmine Carson led all LSU scorers with 22 points off the bench.
AP Player of the Year Caitlin Clark led the charge for Iowa and had been the story of the tournament up to this point, putting up historic numbers en route to leading the Hawkeyes to the title game. On Sunday, the star point guard finished with 30 points, breaking the record for most points scored in a single NCAA Tournament and setting a new tournament record for most 3-pointers made.
Here are the highlights!
No. 3 LSU 102, No. 2 Iowa 85
FOURTH QUARTER
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7:41 – LSU’s advantage grows to 12 points, 81-69, as the midway-mark of the fourth quarter approaches.
8:22 – After being down by as many as 21 points, Iowa heads into the fourth quarter trailing LSU by just 11 points, 75-64.
However, the Tigers are keeping their foot on the gas, as Alexis Morris comes up with another big-time jumper early in the final frame.
THIRD QUARTER
4:44 – Iowa continues to challenge LSU, but the Tigers are keeping the Hawkeyes at bay with one clutch bucket after another. Guard Alexis Morris puts LSU back out in front, 67-57, as the third quarter winds down.
6:48 – Despite being down by double digits, the Hawkeyes are going to work to close the gap. Forward McKenna Warnock drains a 3-pointer to reel in the Tigers slightly, 63-51.
7:56 – Caitlin Clark’s 3-pointer in the third quarter officially etches her name in the record books for most points scored in a women’s NCAA Tournament game.
8:47 – LaDazhia Williams is a force to be reckoned with in the third quarter, extending LSU’s lead to 19 points, 61-42.
SECOND QUARTER
4:36 – LSU stretches its lead to 10 points, 46-36, late in the second quarter with another huge 3 from Jasmine Carson.
The Tigers continue to pour it on as the second quarter winds down, and they head into halftime with a 59-42 lead. LSU’s 59 points are the most first-half scored in a women’s Final Four in NCAA history.
6:48 – Grad transfer Jasmine Carson helps the Tigers get back in the driver’s seat, 36-32, midway through the frame.
7:22 – Iowa starts to settle into a rhythm of its own, as Kate Martin and Caitlin Clark link up for a clutch layup to regain the lead, 32-31, and keep things close.
9:17 – The Tigers start the second quarter in style, thanks to the precision of forward LaDazhia Williams.
FIRST QUARTER
0:39 – LSU is finding a rhythm late in the first quarter, as guard Jasmine Carson makes another splash from distance for the Tigers. With momentum on its side, LSU carries a five-point lead, 27-22, into the second frame.
5:02 – Both teams are going back and forth as the first quarter continues. LSU’s Kateri Poole gives the Tigers the lead once again, 15-12, with this smooth 3-point jumper.
6:30 – LSU knots things up 9-all, thanks to this all-out effort from Flau’jae Johnson, who then gives the Tigers a one-point lead after stepping up to the free-throw line.
8:29 – Iowa jumps out to a 7-3 lead at the first official TV timeout, thanks to the early sharp shooting from Caitlin Clark.
With that, Clark breaks the tournament record for most 3s, which was recently set by Virginia Tech star Georgia Amoore (24) in the Final Four.
9:18 – Iowa is first to strike in this one, but LSU quickly takes the lead, courtesy of Tigers guard Flau’jae Johnson.
PREGAME
Setting the stage
Iowa punched its ticket to the national championship for the first time since 1993 after taking down then-undefeated No. 1 South Carolina in the Final Four, snapping the Gamecocks’ 42-game win streak in the process.
Heading into Sunday, Iowa has put up 87.3 points per game this season, while LSU is giving up an average of 57.2 points per contest. The Hawkeyes are 31-6 when they put up more than 57 points. Caitlin Clark leads Iowa with 27.7 PPG.
Numerous celebrity athletes have taken notice of Clark’s historic performance, including the likes of the NFL‘s Patrick Mahomes and George Kittle, as well as WNBA stars Sabrina Ionescu and Candace Parker, among others.
On the other side, LSU’s 81.7 points per game this season out-paces the 70.9 points per contest Iowa allows. Heading into Sunday’s tilt, LSU is 26-0 when it scores 71-plus points.
LSU is making its first title game appearance in program history after taking down 1-seed Virginia Tech in the Final Four.
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