Iowa vs. LSU 2024 NCAA women’s basketball score, live updates, highlights, analysis

ALBANY, NY — There will, presumably, be no US Olympic tryout for Caitlin Clark.

All things considered, it’s a small price to pay.

This night, this moment, was well worth it.

Clark added to her lore with 41 points and 12 assists, and Iowa finally got the best of Kim Mulkey in the postseason. The second-ranked Hawkeyes topped No. 8 LSU, 84-74, in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament regional final Monday night at MVP Arena.

The Hawkeyes (33-4) avenged last year’s championship-game loss to the Tigers, and marched on to the Final Four for the third time, the second consecutive year.

They’ll face No. 3 USC or No. 10 Connecticut in a national semifinal Friday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

Everybody’s national player of the year, Clark would have been at the Olympic tryout next week had Iowa lost.

Instead, she spearheaded a second-half push that knocked out the champs.

With the game tied 45-45 at halftime, Clark nailed four 3-pointers in a 20-7 rush, and the Tigers (31-6) were cooked.

Clark matched her career-high in 3-pointers with her ninth at the 5:02 mark to put Iowa up 80-69.

Mulkey knocked the Hawkeyes out of the postseason in 2015 (Sweet 16) and 2019 (Elite Eight) at Baylor, then last year at LSU in the final.

Not this time.

Iowa opened ablaze, hitting 7 of 9 shots in the first four minutes, including 3 of 4 from long distance, for a 17-9 lead.

It was 26-21 with Clark converting a three-point play at the 3:29 mark of the first quarter, but Angel Reese ignited a 10-0 LSU run, and the Tigers led 31-26 after a quarter.

LSU had a brief eight-point lead, but Iowa scored the next six, and it was a dogfight again.

The Hawkeyes had a pair of two-point leads, but Flau’jae Johnson’s bucket at the horn made it 45-45 at halftime.

Kate Martin added 21 points for the Hawkeyes. Sydney Affolter tallied 16.

Flau’jae Johnson paced LSU with 23 points, and Mikaylah Williams added 18. Angel Reese scored 17, but fouled out on a charging call with 1:45 left.