National Championship Live Updates/Thread: LSU vs. Iowa

Both programs in search of their first title, Kim Mulkey and the Tigers look to end storybook season on top.

Final: LSU 102, Iowa 85

Fourth Quarter

It's all coming together for LSU in the fourth. After a slow third period, the Tigers giving the Hawkeyes mixed looks both inside and out with Alexis Morris getting into her groove. LSU leads 83-69. Timeout Iowa. 

End 3Q: LSU 75, Iowa 64

Third Quarter

Caitlin Clark picks up a technical foul after throwing the ball away from the play. It's her fourth foul. Immediately subbed out of the game. 

It's a heavyweight battle in the third. Both teams throwing jabs left and right with the Hawkeyes keeping their pace up. LSU leads 73-64 with 1:40 remaining. 

Score Update: LSU 63, Iowa 54

A quick 12-0 run by the Hawkeyes puts them within striking range early in the third quarter. Iowa is getting to their spots with both Angel Reese and Alexis Morris playing light defense with two fouls each. 

LaDazhia Williams knocks down the midrange jump shot to get the second half underway. 

End 2Q: LSU 59, Iowa 42 

Second Quarter

Score Update: LSU 52, Iowa 40 - 1:45 remaining 

LSU is is 8-for-11 from three to start this game. The Tigers needed to see success from deep to be in control. It's precisely what they've done here early. 

Caitlin Clark picks up her third foul with 3:25 remaining in the half.

Tigers with an 8-0 run to balloon their lead to double digits. LSU leads 49-38 with 3:32 remaining. 

LSU continues getting production from their role players with both Alexis Morris and Angel Reese on the bench in foul trouble. LaDazhia Williams up to 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting. Carson up to 16 points. 

Score Update: LSU 41, Iowa 34 - 5:36 remaining 

Jasmine Carson is turning up the heat for LSU. She's 3-for-3 with a pair of triples, giving the Tigers a huge boost off the bench. Timeout Iowa. 

15 fouls have been called through the first 13 and a half minutes of play. Angel Reese and Alexis Morris both with two. Caitlin Clark and McKenna Warnock with two as well for Iowa. 

Iowa is 6-of-10 from deep to start the game with Clark knocking down four of them. LSU remains in a man-to-man defense, blitzing Clark on every possession. 

Gabbie Marshall knocks down her first triple of the night to open the second frame.

End 1Q: LSU 27, Iowa 22

First Quarter

Caitlin Clark with 14 points and four threes in the first quarter for the Hawkeyes. The AP Player of the Year has looked as good as advertised with the Tigers throwing different defenders at her early. 

Angel Reese picks up her second foul with 57 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Freshman Sa'Myah Smith comes in for the All-American. 

Caitlin Clark continues to heat up for the Hawkeyes after burying back-to-back contested threes. LSU blitzing her at halfcourt but there's been no answer. 

Score Update: LSU 15, Iowa 12 - 4:40 remaining

Tigers hit their next three shots to take the lead 10-9. Quick response by the Tigers with a Johnson "and-one" to cap it off. 

Alexis Morris and Flau'jae Johnson will be the primary defenders on Clark today with HC Kim Mulkey already giving both a chance. 

Score Update: Iowa 7, LSU 3 - 8:24 remaining 

Hawkeyes start the quarter 3-for-4 from the field with a near 25-footer from Caitlin Clark. The AP Player of the Year wasted no time before getting in the books. Timeout LSU. 

LSU wins the tip but a quick turnover from SEC Freshman of the Year Flau'jae Johnson results in an easy bucket for Iowa. Johnson responds with a three. 

Pregame 

LSU's Starting Lineup 

G: Alexis Morris

G: Flau'jae Johnson 

G: Kateri Poole

F: LaDazhia Williams 

F: Angel Reese

Iowa's Starting Lineup 

G: Caitlin Clark

G: Kate Martin

G: Gabbie Marshall

F: McKenna Warnock 

F/C: Monika Czinano

Notes

- In her second year at LSU, Coach Kim Mulkey has refueled the program and put the Tigers in a position to compete for a national title. Although this is a first at LSU, Mulkey has been here before. Sunday will be the fourth national championship game she will be a head coach in. She has won each of her previous three. She is also distinct as the only person – men’s or women’s – with national championships as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

- Reese was the headliner as the nation’s top transfer last offseason, coming to play for a coach she knew would push her to greatness. Reese has made history every step of the way throughout the season. In Friday’s game against Virginia Tech, she set the SEC record for rebounds in a season and on Sunday she has the opportunity to record her 34th double-double of the year that would set the NCAA record.

- The Tigers will face a big test Sunday for the National Championship. To make it to Sunday, Iowa knocked off the defending national champions and previously undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks. Clark was the straw that stirred the drink for the Hawkeyes. She has scored over 40 points in both of the past two games. And although neither of those games were a triple double, she lead leads the nation with five of those this season.

What They Said

“We're not going to stop fighting until the end, and I think we just have that dog mentality within the team,” LSU All-American Angel Reese said. “I think it just built on early on in the year. So just keeping the team confident. They're going to go on runs. We're going to go on runs. And just staying resilient and being able to be calm throughout the storm.”

“She's going to get her points,” Coach Kim Mulkey said of Caitlin Clark. “That girl is phenomenal shooting the ball. But the most impressive thing to me, now that you're talking to an old point guard, is she makes everybody around her better. You have great players that can get numbers, but she makes others on her team better.”