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Hawkeyes outlast UCONN to book repeat trip to national championship game
CLEVELAND, OHIO — The Iowa Hawkeyes are once again one step away from a national title after outlasting UCONN in the national semifinal on Friday night in Cleveland, 71-69. The Hawkeyes will play for a national championship on Sunday night against the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks.
The Hawkeyes battled back from an early 12-point deficit in the first quarter to tie the game up after three quarters. The Hawkeyes then opened a nine-point lead in the 4th quarter, only to see UCONN fight back and cut the lead to one with 49 seconds to play on a three-pointer from Nika Muhl.
And what a final 49 seconds it was.
Caitlin Clark lead the Hawkeyes down the court after Muhl’s basket, draining the clock to under 20 seconds when she drove to the hoop and dumped it off to to Hannah Stuelke who turned the ball over on a bad pass. Connecticut called timeout with ten seconds to play to setup what could be the game-winning play. However, Aaliyah Edwards would draw an offensive foul setting a hard screen on Gabbie Marshall, forcing a turnover.
The Huskies would foul Caitlin Clark, sending her to the line for two shots. After sinking the first, she missed the second off the iron – but it was grabbed by Sydney Affolter who held on to the rebound with the possession arrow pointing towards Iowa with just one second on the clock.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes falls to the floor after shooting a three point basket against the UConn Huskies in the second half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: The Iowa Hawkeyes bench reacts in the second half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game against the UConn Huskies at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Head coach Lisa Bluder of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts in the second half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game against the UConn Huskies at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Kate Martin #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes gives a thumbs up after sustaining an injury in the second half against the UConn Huskies during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Kate Martin #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes leaves the court after sustaining an injury in the second half against the UConn Huskies during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts in the second half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game UConn Huskies at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Paige Bueckers #5 of the UConn Huskies drives to the rim as Kate Martin #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes defends in the second half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: KK Arnold #2 of the UConn Huskies drives around Sydney Affolter #3 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Hannah Stuelke #45 of the Iowa Hawkeyes shoots the ball over Aaliyah Edwards #3 of the UConn Huskies in the first half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Jason Sudeikis looks on in the second half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game between the UConn Huskies and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game against the UConn Huskies at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: The Iowa Hawkeyes beat the UConn Huskies 71-69 in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: The Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate after beating the UConn Huskies 71-69 during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: The Iowa Hawkeyes react after beating the UConn Huskies in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Iowa defeated Connecticut 71-69 (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes is fouled by Nika Muhl #10 of the UConn Huskies in the second half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Iowa defeated Connecticut 71-69 (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes is fouled by Nika Muhl #10 of the UConn Huskies in the second half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Iowa defeated Connecticut 71-69 (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Gabbie Marshall #24 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates after beating the UConn Huskies in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Iowa defeated Connecticut 71-69 (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) -
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes huddles with the team after beating the UConn Huskies in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Iowa defeated Connecticut 71-69 (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
But the Hawkeyes weren’t satisfied with even that much time on the clock. Caitlin Clark smartly passed the ball off a UCONN defender on the inbounds play to drain the clock down to .3 seconds – giving the Huskies time only to watch the Hawkeyes toss the ball in air in celebration of a return trip to the national championship game.
A smothering UCONN defense knocked Caitlin Clark off her game early. But Clark was able to find and rely on her teammates to carry the Hawkeyes until she found her stroke in the second half. The Hawkeyes were led in scoring by Stuelke’s 23. Clark finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Katie Martin added 9 points, including six key points late in the fourth quarter.
The Hawkeyes now move on to face the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday at 2:00 pm in Cleveland. That game will be carried live on ABC.
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