Jasmine Carson knocked in a left-wing 3-point heave at the end of the first half to give the LSU Tigers a 17-point lead at halftime, and the Tigers never surrendered the lead, on their way to winning the Women’s NCAA Championship over the Iowa Hawkeyes, 102-85.
Carson, who had not scored in the previous three games and had 11 points total in the entire tournament, was 7-of-7 from the field, including five 3-pointers for 21 first-half points. She finished with 22 points.
LSU (34-2), underdogs heading into the title game, had to fight and claw to hang on to win its first-ever National Championship. After taking a 63-42 early in the third quarter on a pair of Angel Reese free throws, Iowa went on a 15-2 run to cut the lead to 65-5; however, the Hawkeyes never got closer than seven points thanks to senior
Alexis Morris scored 19 of her 21 points in the second half to pace LSU.
Angel Reese’s record run
Reese set the NCAA record for most single-season double-doubles (34) with her 15-point 10 assisting outing. Slowed by foul trouble, she missed most of the second quarter sitting on the bench.
“I think it started in the summertime, we knew the talent that we had but it was about piecing it together, at the right time and now we are national champs,” Reese said after the game.
LaDaiziah Williams added 20 points to steady the Tigers.
Kim Mulkey helps deliver title to LSU
LSU’s run to its first national championship comes in the second year under Hall of Fame Coach Kim Mulkey, who took over the program after three national championship-winning seasons at Baylor in 20 years at the helm. Mulkey transformed a team that won just nine games in 2021, returned to the NCAA tournament in 2022, and then added nine new players to the roster this season.
Mulkey, a Louisiana native that starred as the point guard for Louisiana Tech in the 1980s, brought a title back home.
“Coaches coach a lifetime. This is the fourth time I’ve been blessed,” Mulkey told ESPN’s Holly Rowe in a postgame interview. “Never in LSU basketball men or women had they played in the national championship and to win it I think my tears are tears of joy. I’m happy for everyone back home in Louisiana.”
Iowa (31-7) was slowed down by foul trouble as well both Caitlin Clark and Monica Czinano picked up four fouls before the fourth quarter. Czinano eventually fouled out with 13 points and 6 rebounds.
Clark, the superstar guard with the dazzling ability to light up the scoreboard did her best to keep the game close, she scored at least 30 points for the 14th time this season finishing with 30 points, a national championship record of 8 made 3s, and eight assists. Forward McKenna Warnock also fouled out for the Hawkeyes.