Iowa, LSU advance to women's basketball title game

Caitlin Clark scored 41 points to lead Iowa over undefeated South Carolina for a spot in the 2023 women's basketball tournament title game Friday in Dallas. The Hawkeyes will meet LSU, who ousted Virginia Tech.

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"We had nothing to lose," Clark said on the ESPN broadcast after the 77-73 triumph at the American Airlines Center.

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"I had all the confidence in the world in this group and I know they believe in me."

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Clark, the national player of the year, logged eight assists and six rebounds, in addition to her national semifinal record point total. She scored the final 11 points for the Hawkeyes.

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Iowa will battle LSU in the 2023 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament finale Sunday in Dallas.

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The Gamecocks out-rebounded the Hawkeyes 49-25 in Friday's loss, but allowed their foes to make 49.1% of their shots and couldn't corral Clark.

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Hawkeyes senior forward Monika Czinano chipped in 18 points. Gamecocks senior guard Zia Cooke scored 24 points in the loss.

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Neither team scored for the first two minutes of the contest. Clark helped the Hawkeyes start the game with an 8-2 run. The Hawkeyes ended the quarter with a 9-2 run and held a 22-13 edge through the first 10 minutes.

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The Gamecocks outscored the Hawkeyes 24-16 in the second, but trailed 38-37 at the break. Clark scored 19 points in the first half.

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