LSU made history on Sunday when it defeated Iowa to win the program’s first women’s basketball national championship.
The game started with both team’s respective stars getting hot. Tigers forward Angel Reese was getting to the rim at ease and picked up a quick seven points while Caitlin Clark started off shooting 4-of-5 from behind the arc. But things quickly took a turn when the officials got more involved.
Both Clark and Reese found themselves in foul trouble early and were forced to sit. LSU’s bench capitalized on Clark’s absence and erupted in the second quarter, most notably Jasmine Carson. The guard went 5-for-5 from deep in just the first half and 7-for-7 from the field, including a bankshot buzzer beater to end the half with 21 points and gave LSU a 59–42 lead.
The Tigers’ lead ballooned up to 21 points, but Iowa rallied in the third quarter thanks in large part to Clark’s range from behind the arc. The lead was as low as seven at one point, with the physical play continuing, but LSU held their ground as Clark picked up her fourth foul and a controversial technical to end the fourth quarter down 75–64.
Clark was given a technical for tapping a ball out of bounds and LSU coach Kim Mulkey was seen making physical contact with a referee in the same quarter, but she wasn’t reprimanded.
"Here's the T on Caitlin Clark... I mean... you have GOT to be kidding me." - @RyanRuocco
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 2, 2023
"No player in this game should get a technical foul for that." - @RebeccaLobo pic.twitter.com/qQuJD6bUTz
If this isn’t a T, what is? pic.twitter.com/WDCcwyHFhP
— Andy Garman (@GarmanSports) April 2, 2023
Despite their best efforts, the Hawkeyes never saw the lead again as the Tigers held on to their lead and won 102–85. LSU’s point total was the most scored in women’s national championship history.
Reese finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Clark had 30 points and eight assists. It was Reese’s 34th double double of the year, the most ever by a player in a single season.
