No. 3 LSU has captured the school’s first National Championship in women’s basketball history, knocking off Caitlin Clark and the No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes 102-85. Jasmine Carson‘s first-half heroics headline the box score, as her incredible shooting display helped the Tigers bring the trophy back to Baton Rouge.
The Tigers stunned the Hawkeyes, who entered the game the heavily-favored bunch. It began with Carson’s unlikely efforts, as she entered halftime with 21 points and five threes off the bench. She shot a perfect 7-7 from the field. The highlight of Carson’s stellar shooting display was a buzzer-beater bank shot from the wing. Moreover, LSU, as a team, shot the lights out from deep in the first half (75%).
Though early on, foul trouble proved difficult for both sides, as questionable calls sidelined stars Angel Reese and Clark. Both had three fouls entering halftime, as LSU led 59-42.
The second half looked promising for Iowa, as they shortened the deficit to single digits at one point. The Hawkeyes went on a 15-2 run, as Clark got hot, hitting multiple deep threes in the third quarter. They looked to complete the largest comeback in NCAA history, but LSU never stepped off the gas, leading them to become victorious.
LSU’s win is credited to no single player, as five players scored in double-digit figures. Carson ended with a team-high 22; Alexis Morris with 21; Ladazhia Williams with 20; Reese with 15, and Flau’Jae Johnson with 10.
Clark ended with a game-high 30 points, but her efforts weren’t enough to carry the Hawkeyes to a victory. The next highest scorer for the Hawkeyes was Kate Martin and Monika Czinano, who scored 13 each.
The victory for LSU highlights coach Kim Mulkey’s success. Mulkey, 60 years old, is now one of three coaches four national titles. And while all of the eyes were on the game, Mulkey’s outfit may have been the most mesmerizing thing on the court. Nonetheless, LSU has succeeded all expectations this season, and this National Championship victory has to be the most gratifying.
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