Women's NCAA tournament - Caitlin Clark, Iowa cruise to Elite Eight and rematch with LSU
Ros Gold-Onwude and Isis Young discuss another star performance by Caitlin Clark in the Hawkeyes' 89-68 win over the Colorado Buffaloes and the anticipated rematch against LSU in the Elite Eight.
Video Transcript
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ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: Number one Iowa downs number five seed Colorado in convincing fashion with an 89-68 victory. Caitlin Clark, she delivered the offensive masterclass that we've all really gotten to know and expect from her. She made everything happen for her team. On offense, she had 29 points, 15 assists, six rebounds, and only two turnovers, Ise. I mean, what's most impressive with what Caitlin's doing?
ISIS YOUNG: Oh, man, I just think it's the level of difficulty that she's doing these things. But it looks effortless. And it's her motor, the fact that she just does not get tired. In fact, she wants to play more than I think everyone else does. She wants to continue to hoop. I was just really impressed that she got her teammates involved well today, those 15 assists, like you talked about, but just making sure that she shares the love, that everyone feels valued. And I just thought Caitlin just did a good job of steering the ship for her team. It was a much-needed rhythm game, I felt like, for her. I feel like now, she's in rhythm. And she's ready to go against LSU.
ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: Oh, she is absolutely steering that ship. She's making so much happen for Iowa. In fact, Caitlin scored or assisted on 28 of 35 total field goals for Iowa. Ise, that's 80% of their offense is what she is mixing the pot with. It's her pace. It's her ability to impact the pace of offense for her team, the way she kicks the ball up the court.
For me, it's the amount of times that the ball is in her hands, how much responsibility is on her, and the efficiency, the lack of mistakes. We know she can shoot that 3. We know she can put up points.
But it's also how she puts the defense on her back and gets to the cup, her change of pace, it's her skill, it's the how she's getting to the points, it's the diversity of ways she can impact the game, especially on offense, that makes her so exciting and interesting. And all five starters for Iowa came through with double digits. So how is the supporting cast shaping up for Iowa?
ISIS YOUNG: Well, talk about just a rematch that's coming up of last year's national championship game. Like, they cannot beat LSU unless they have all of their players playing, all of their players scoring. So I thought it was great today that all players finished in double figures. I was impressed with Hannah Stuelke, just came out with another double double, 11 points, 10 rebounds.
It's important for her to be very solid on the interior. And especially, the next game, in terms of those inside matchups, she has to be on point. And then Sydney Affolter as well, a player that can play in the front court, but can also play on the perimeter, had a good game and scored in double figures. So just those two stood out to me as players that, for the next game, are going to be so important and critical to Iowa's possible success over LSU.
ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: America is going to get the spicy Elite Eight match-up, the rematch of last season's championship game. Iowa will see LSU in the Elite Eight.