Foul trouble and hot shooting LSU doomed the Iowa Hawkeye women in the NCAA Championship game.
The Tiger’s made 11 of 17 from three point range, including nine of 12 in the decisive opening half in a 102-85 win in Dallas. It spoiled the Hawkeyes’ bid for a first national title. Iowa coach Lisa Bluder.
Iowa sliced a 21-point LSU advantage to seven in the third quarter before a key moment when senior center Monika Czinano was whistled for he fourth foul and junior guard Caitlin Clark was given a technical foul.
Czinano and fellow senior McKenna Warnock both fouled out and the Hawkeyes closed their first title game appearance with a record of 31-7.
It capped an NCAA Tournament that featured record attendance and surging television ratings.
Iowa junior Caitlin Clark finished with 30 points and eight assists but was on the bench in the second quarter with three fouls when LSU raced out to a 59-42 lead at halftime.
It caps a season that saw Clark named the nation’s top player and set a new scoring record for the NCAA Tournament.
With six of the top eight players returning expectations will be high for next season.
Czinano says getting to to championship game was a thrilling way to close her career. She finished with 13 points and six rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
