Caitlin Clark puts on 41-point masterclass as Iowa beats LSU 94-87 to exact revenge one year after defeat in NCAA Championship... as Angel Reese fouls out in her likely last game

Revenge is a dish best served cold — and for Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes, it may only be an appetizer. 

In a rematch of the most-watched game in women's basketball history, the 2023 NCAA Championship, coach Lisa Bluder's Hawkeyes outperformed Kim Mulkey's Tigers for a 94-87 Elite 8 victory in Albany on Monday night. With the win, Iowa advances to it second straight Final Four, where the Hawkeyes will have a chance at the main course: The first title in program history. 

It was 364 days earlier that the same two teams met with an NCAA title on the line, only for Angel Reese and LSU to dispatch Clark's Hawkeyes, 102-85, in front of a television audience of nearly 10 million viewers. 

This year, with both teams playing in the same region of the NCAA Tournament, things were considerably different. Clark, with her 41 points and 12 assists, was simply too much. Reese, meanwhile, was a ghost for much of the second half before fouling out in what will likely be her final college basketball game. 

Clark's performance was simply another chapter in a masterclass senior season that saw her surpass another LSU legend, Pete Maravich, for the most points in the history of Division I basketball. 

Not only was it her fifth 40-point outburst of the season, but by making nine 3-pointers, Clark surpassed UConn legend Diana Taurasi's NCAA Tournament record of 61 career makes from deep. 

And as brilliant as her shooting was on Monday, her passing pay have been even better. In total, Clark scored or assisted on 25 of Iowa's 32 field goals.  

The style of play favored Clark and the Hawkeyes in the early going.

The reigning NCAA Player of the Year opened the scoring with a 3-pointer over LSU’s Hailey Van Lilth — a transfer from Louisville who surrendered 41 points to Clark while losing to Iowa in the 2023 Elite 8.

Lisa Bluder’s team didn’t let their foot off the gas, picking up five quick points off turnovers as Clark poured in eight and three assists, including a brilliant backdoor feed to Gabbie Marshall for an easy layup.

Mulkey fired off a timeout down 17-9, and appeared to get the desired reaction from her players, who picked up their defensive intensity.

First it was Reese, who robbed an entry pass from Clark and returned it at the other end for an easy layup and the Tigers’ first lead of the game.

One possession later, it was the entire LSU defense who forced Clark into a five-second violation on an inbounds pass underneath the basket.

And Reese wasn’t done. After another steal, she found Mikaylah Williams for an easy bucket at the other end to push the lead to 31-26 entering the second, where things only intensified.

A slugfest ensued for the remainder of the half. After leading by nine, Iowa found itself trailing by eight in the second before clawing back in the final minute. 

The frame ended with Iowa’s Addison O’Grady taking a deft pass from Clark for an easy bucket at one end only for LSU’s Flau'jae Johnson to answer at the other to send the teams into the locker rooms tied at 45.

But for as competitive as the second quarter was, the third frame belonged to Iowa and Clark, who showed off her skillset with four long-range 3-pointers and three more assists as the Hawkeyes pushed their lead to 11. 

LSU, meanwhile, was starting to feel the pressure. 

Van Lith, who was recovering from an illness and required fluids in the the first half, had a pair of costly turnovers while Reese sent cold from the field. 

As a result, LSU went just 5 of 26 in the third while failing to make a single 3-point attempt.  If it weren't for the Tiger's rebounding edge (44-27 entering the final quarter), LSU might not have had a chance in the fourth.