The South Carolina Gamecocks took down the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday by a score of 87-75 to complete their undefeated season. South Carolina came into this game looking to win their second title in three seasons and left the court completing their goal. The Gamecocks were the best team all season long and it showed on the court during the title game.
Entering the contest, much of the talk was on Iowa and superstar Caitlin Clark. Clark has been the best player in college basketball all season and was given a chance at redemption after the Hawkeyes lost in the title game a year ago to the LSU Tigers. Unfortunately for Clark, she will not be able to leave the college ranks as a champion.
It was a total team effort for the Gamecocks, as four players scored in double-digits. Tessa Johnson led the way, dropping 19 points for South Carolina. Guard Te-Hina Paopao had 14, center Kamilla Cardoso put up 15 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, while forward Chole Kitts added 11 points and 10 rebounds. This team showed why they were so dominant all season long and can now call themselves champions.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley won her third NCAA title, which will place her in the history books amongst head coaches. She has helped transform this South Carolina program into one of the best in recent memory, something that isn’t easily done.
This was a rematch from the Final Four last season, where Clark and Iowa got the best of South Carolina. The Gamecocks got their revenge on the Hawkeyes in this one, likely using last season as motivation.
For Clark and Iowa, this is a tough defeat. After losing in the title game last season, many believed this would be a chance to redeem themselves. But despite the effort from Clark, the Hawkeyes fell just short again. The star guard put up 30 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in trying to lead her team to a win. Clark will now head to the WNBA, where she is expected to be selected as the first overall pick by the Indiana Fever.
It was looking good for Iowa early on, as they led 27-20 after the first quarter. But South Carolina took over the game from there and never let go. This has been a staple of the Gamecocks all season and it showed in the biggest moments. They outscored Iowa by ten in the second quarter, all but gaining control of the highly-anticipated contest.
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