Caitlin Clark leads Iowa past UConn, back to NCAA title game - ESPN

CLEVELAND — Caitlin Clark's remarkable college basketball career will continue to the women's NCAA championship game for a second consecutive year, after the Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the UConn Huskies 71-69 in the Final Four on Friday night at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

Clark scored 21 points to go along with 9 rebounds and 7 assists as her days in Iowa black and gold will finish in the NCAA final. The Hawkeyes take on overall No. 1 seed South Carolina for the national championship Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. The Gamecocks (37-0) beat NC State 78-59 in Friday's first semifinal.

Sophomore post player Hannah Stuelke led the Hawkeyes (33-4) in scoring with 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting. It was only the second time this season that Clark did not lead Iowa in scoring; both times it was Stuelke who stepped up.

Senior guard Kate Martin contributed 11 points and 8 rebounds as Iowa won the rebounding battle 38-30.

Clark's signature 3-point shooting was off in the first half, as she was 0-for-6 from long range, and Iowa trailed 32-26 at halftime, with Clark limited to 6 points on 3-of-11 shooting overall.

The Hawkeyes had more turnovers (12) than field goals (11) in the first half, evidence of how good the Huskies' defense was. Iowa's 26 points tied its season low, matching its first-half output in a second-round victory over West Virginia.

But Iowa's offense was much better in the second half, as the Hawkeyes had 25 points in the third quarter and sent the game to the final period tied 51-51. In the fourth quarter, Iowa outscored UConn 20-18 and Hawkeyes guard Gabbie Marshall drew a key late offensive foul against Aaliyah Edwards that helped seal the victory.

Clark is expected to be selected No. 1 by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA