LSU ousts Iowa, as Mulkey secures her fourth NCAA title

DALLAS — When Kim Mulkey surprised the women’s college basketball world with a job at LSU, there was no question that she would lead the Tigers to a national championship at some point.

But to do it in two years of work? as a weakling? Is her team counting out every time? Play against Player of the Year Kaitlyn Clarke? Malkey admits that it was never really in her plans.

Yet she stood there yelling, yelling, stomping, and yelling at the referee.And, well, it became clear of plan.

Markie and unsung hero Jasmine Carson led the Tigers to a 102-85 victory over Clark and Iowa in a game that delivered the high drama and incredible play that many expected, the highest score ever. ‘s National Title Game in front of a rowdy match. , a packed crowd that alternates between euphoria and despair at each momentum.

Malkey became the first women’s basketball coach to lead two different teams to national championships. This was the most unexpected as the No. 3 seed was questioned to a large extent the season for not playing a tough enough non-conference schedule. With her minute left, Malkey returned to the bench and put her hand to her mouth to try to hold back her tears. LSU forward Angel Reese pointed to her ring finger. The crowd shouted “LSU! LSU!”

As the final seconds passed, Malkey leaned back on the bench and swarmed the staff.

Iowa entered the title match as the favorite. (How could they not, the way Clark played in his NCAA Tournament?) With the loss, Clark set a record for total points scored in his NCAA Tournament by one man or woman. I was.

Off a back-to-back 41-point performance that included an upset at No. 1 South Carolina, Clarke finished with 30 points on 9-of-22 shooting.

Clark opened the game with a deep 3-pointer of the type that won him a legion of fans far beyond Iowa State and drew oops ahhh from the crowd.

But LSU wasn’t overwhelmed in the moment. In fact, the Tigers very much felt they belonged in this moment, playing with obvious energy after every shot and steal.

If anyone were to follow Clark, it would be LSU All-American Reese?

Well, Reese went to the bench for two fouls late in the first quarter and sat out the entire second quarter. 3 transfers and 1 LSU starter Carson: Enter the truly unexpected. Simply put, Carson couldn’t miss, hitting 3 after 3 in an unbelievably spectacular display that overwhelmed Clarke in the first half.

Clarke also got into foul trouble as the referee earned the ire of both Malkey and Iowa coach Lisa Bruder. In the first half, a total of seven players made two foul calls each.

LSU was able to build a lead with Reese on the bench as Carson finished the first half with 21 points, a perfect 7-7 (3 to 5-5), and scored a 3 just before halftime – it proper way to end. Clark, on the other hand, was 16.

LSU led 59-42 at the break, and the Hawkeyes put up enough fighting in the second half, but were unable to reduce the deficit enough to make a serious run in the lead. Clarke had a trademark shot but led the comeback charge after being whistled for a questionable technical foul in the third quarter and foul being called by a teammate before flipping the ball over and out of bounds. It wasn’t enough to…

Her dream of winning Iowa in the elusive national championship will have to wait another year. It didn’t feel so good to think about it.

With nine new players, Malkey wasn’t sure what to expect from his roster. When she said before Sweet 16 that she had no strategy to win her national title after her two years in the program, her players agreed. Alexis Morris said: Malkey. ”

It was Morris who tried to warn everyone of what was coming when she and her teammates felt “littled” by the way Iowa defended its South Carolina guard. He told reporters in a media interview, “I’m going to take it personally into that match. You’re going to have to defend us.”

Even when Iowa guarded LSU, the Tigers made shots they couldn’t make all season. They found their way and Mulkey found his way to a fourth national title.