Caitlin Clark and Iowa Topple South Carolina in Final Four

As that game ended, the American Airlines Center quickly filled for what many fans and observers of the sport considered the main event. Spectators wearing black, gold and garnet were here to see the most anticipated college basketball matchup in either N.C.A.A. Division I Final Four, with the stifling, unbeaten South Carolina team against Clark, who was widely considered the player of the year.

“Tonight showed how fun women’s basketball is,” Clark said. “I’m sure so many people wish this was a series of seven. That would be really, really fun.”

For much of the first half, Iowa dominated South Carolina, and got its star forward, Aliyah Boston, into early foul trouble. She played just eight minutes and was scoreless in the first half, but Iowa led by only 1 at the break, mostly because of South Carolina’s relentless depth. The lead seemed like it would evaporate quickly with Boston back in the second half.

Iowa’s strategy of a zone defense, dropping Clark from the top of the zone and on to Boston or any post player that got the ball, proved to be effective. Clark’s help defense and center Monika Czinano’s physicality forced 15 South Carolina turnovers. On the offensive end, Iowa picked apart South Carolina’s defense with pick-and-roll plays, mostly featuring Clark and Czinano. The Gamecocks struggled to defend the play, often leaving one of the two wide open. Czinano finished with 18 points.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/sports/ncaabasketball/iowa-south-carolina-lsu-womens-final-four.html