Dubbed as the most anticipated matchup in women’s college basketball history by ESPN’s Ryan Ruocco, Friday’s Iowa Hawkeyes vs UConn Huskies Final Four game featured the sport’s biggest stars. With two of the best scorers in women’s basketball going toe to toe as Caitlin Clark squared off against Paige Bueckers, all eyes were tuned into the action at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. While Iowa’s 71-69 win over UConn wasn’t the high-scoring smokeshow many anticipated, it had it’s own unique quirks.
UConn’s Nika Muhl made sure fans learned her name instead, doing her best to spoil Clark’s night by being a defensive hound. Muhl picked up Caitlin Clark defensively as soon as she touched the ball, staying glued to her for all 94 feet of the court. Muhl’s swarming defense greatly impacted Iowa’s offense early on with Clark unable to get into any rhythm, being held to six first-half points and the first 3-point-less first-half in her NCAA Tournament career.
Caitlin Clark powers Iowa to victory after halftime
Yet, Caitlin Clark wasn’t phased by one rough half of play. She came out firing in the second half, scoring 15 points to finish with 21 on the night.
— wow that was crazy (@CowardlyDoggo) April 6, 2024
- Caitlin Clark’s stats vs UConn: 21 points (3/11 3PT), 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals
Geno Auriemma, coaching in his 23rd Final Four, couldn’t get the Huskies over the hump, but his defensive game plan did hold Clark to the fewest points of her 2024 NCAA Tournament thus far. Meanwhile, star Huskies guard Paige Bueckers finished with 17 points on 17 shots (3-of-8 3PT), with four rebounds and three assists.
Now Clark takes on the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks for a chance to redeem themselves after Iowa lost to Angel Reese and Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers during last year’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
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