South Carolina’s Bree Hall (23) and Te-Hina Paopao react during the NCAA championship game against Iowa on Sunday in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
It’s perfection for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks completed an undefeated season with a thrilling 87-75 victory over Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the NCAA championship game on Sunday in Cleveland.
South Carolina (38-0) was the best team in the nation all season and it showed why on Sunday with an all-around scoring effort and a dominant showing on the glass.
Freshman Tessa Johnson led the Gamecocks with 19 points off the bench, but Kamilla Cardoso was the heart at soul as usual. She finished with 15 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks in an outstanding two-way effort.
The loss ends a record-breaking career for Clark, who leaves as the all-time leading scorer in both men’s and women’s college basketball. She scored 30 to lead Iowa on Sunday but it wasn’t enough.
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Final: South Carolina 87, Iowa 75
There are tears everywhere. Even alum Aliyah Boston broke down as she stood behind a teary Dawn Staley during the postgame interview.
As Clark subs out and says her goodbye to college basketball, Molly Davis subs in to touch the court after an injury kept her out.
That’s it. Raven Johnson dribbles to wait out the clock and coach Staley tells her not to shoot.
South Carolina fans can taste the win now. Clark sent PaoPao to the free throw line with 1:07 remming and she made both of her attempts. Up 12 points, the Gamecocks are so close to completing a perfect season.
Fans are booing after Iowa’s Kate Martin was called for a foul. She hooked Ashlyn Watkins, who went 1-for-2 from the free throw line.
Cardoso is the key of this game. After an offensive rebound and layup, she’s up to 15 points.
South Carolina didn’t like that one. Affolter stole the ball from Raven Johnson near the half court line and completed a three-point play after she was fouled on the layup.
South Carolina’s Tessa Johnson was fouled by Kate Marshall and she made both of her free throws. Martin answered with a layup on the other end assisted by Clark.
This 3 from Marshall was crucial for Iowa, capping off an 8-0 run.
Stuelke missed both of her free throws and Johnson capitalized for South Carolina with a jumper. Clark answered with a jumper and Fulwiley scored a layup on the other end.
The final quarter is underway! We’re starting with Stuelke at the free throw line after a take to the basket.
End of 3rd: South Carolina 68, Iowa 59
Clark attempted to end the quarter with a three-pointer but it was no good.
TESSA JOHNSON has the hot hand. Iowa calls a timeout after she hits another 3-pointer, her second of the quarter.
Bree Hall is the next Gamecock to score a 3. South Carolina is up 10 points.
Ooo boy. Clark scored in the paint again. She almost had another impressive assist to Stuelke, too. South Carolina capitalized on the miss, securing the defensive rebound and converting with a 3-pointer from Tessa Johnson.
Iowa’s Gabbie Marshall made a 3-pointer for her first field goal of the game. It was assisted by Clark, who followed up with a highlight assist to Stuelke.
Clark just scored in the paint and looked to the officials for a foul call. Cardoso ended up at the free throw line on the other end instead. She missed both of her free throws. A few plays later, Kitts was called for an offensive foul on a drive to the basket.
And we’re off in the third quarter. Chloe Kitts gets on the board first for South Carolina with a layup assisted by PaoPao. Kitts follows up with a jumper.
After another jumper from PaoPao, the Gamecocks are on a 6-0 run.
Referees in the hot seat
Happy halftime! It looks like the conversation during the break has shifted toward the officials. Reporters, athletes and sports media personalities have weighed in throughout the game.
South Carolina’s staff still upset about what was a pretty clear pushoff from Caitlin Clark on Bree Hall that led to a 3. Overheard: “He said he didn’t see it.”
“Can’t look at ’em too hard,” “Can’t even breathe on ’em!”
Sounds behind USC’s bench here in Cleveland after Fulwiley gets called for a foul. #Gamecocks wanted Gabby Marshall called for a flop. Fulwiley w some words for the Iowa guard too…
South Carolina is so good at putting a few more points on the board at the end of quarters. It came up big in the regular season win against LSU (one of their few close games). That quick five points heading into the half could matter.
