Go Iowa Awesome – Iowa 74, Georgia 66: Sweet 16-Bound

Truthful or not, everybody’s lasting reminiscence of Iowa’s season final 12 months was the upset loss to 10 seed Creighton within the second spherical of the NCAA Event. The victory at house in opposition to Michigan to safe a share of the Large Ten common season title was unbelievable. Iowa’s run to win the Large Ten Event was superior. And but folks decide a staff most for his or her efficiency within the NCAA Event.

Iowa has had extra unbelievable moments this 12 months. Beating undefeated #2 Ohio State in Columbus. Beating #2 Indiana at house on a buzzer-beater from Caitlin Clark. Blowing out Ohio State within the Large Ten Event closing as a part of one other title-winning run.

With a victory over Georgia within the second spherical of the NCAA Event, Iowa would have the chance to make extra and higher recollections and return to the Candy 16 for the third time previously 4 NCAA Tournaments. However with a loss, one other NCAA Event upset would outline an in any other case stellar season.

The sport began quick on each ends in entrance of a big — and loud — crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Area. Iowa missed its first couple pictures, however then bought into the sport with a pair of three-pointers from Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin and a pair beauty inside. Defensively, Iowa performed a triangle-and-two protection to start out, which did an excellent job at forcing Georgia into loads of leap pictures. The Bulldogs made most of these leap pictures, although. Iowa nonetheless led 12-8 on the under-5 timeout.

Georgia compelled some turnovers out of the timeout and went on a 7-0 run to take a 15-12 lead. Clark answered with a three-pointer to fireplace up the gang once more. Iowa bought the higher of play for the remainder of the quarter, and briefly led by 4 earlier than a late Georgia steal and rating made it 19-17 Iowa heading to the second quarter.

The Hawks began the second quarter on fireplace from three-point vary. Gabbie Marshall and McKenna Warnock every made two threes as a part of a stretch of 4 consecutive threes for Iowa, and Georgia known as a timeout with 7:28 left within the quarter and Iowa main 31-21.

Georgia responded with a 5-0 run of its personal out of the timeout, earlier than Marshall hit one other 3-pointer to offer Iowa a 34-26 lead on the under-5 timeout. After the timeout, Iowa struggled to maintain the ball (three turnovers) or make pictures (0/3) and Georgia went on a 9-0 run, capped off by a Bulldogs three with simply over three minutes to go within the quarter that gave them a 35-34 lead.

Iowa lastly made baskets to briefly take a 4-point lead. However Georgia answered once more with a shot within the paint on the buzzer to chop Iowa’s halftime result in only one level, 41-40.

Each groups struggled offensively within the first 5 minutes of the third quarter, however Iowa was in a position to maintain onto a slender 49-46 lead. The Hawkeyes had been nonetheless capturing properly from three-point vary, however continued to battle with turnovers. Of word, Clark picked up two fast fouls within the quarter and had three fouls with quarter-hour nonetheless to play within the recreation.

Georgia responded once more out of a timeout and shortly retook the lead within the recreation, 52-51. Towards the tip of the quarter, Iowa was lastly in a position to get stops on protection and hit three straight pictures to retake the lead. Carver bought loud once more because the Hawks briefly took a 58-52 lead on a McKenna Warnock jumper. Georgia made a pair of free throws to finish the quarter, however Iowa led 58-54 heading to the fourth quarter.

Each offenses had been sluggish to start out the fourth quarter. Georgia was in a position to get stops or power turnovers, however couldn’t make leap pictures on the opposite finish and was by no means in a position to tie the sport. Lastly Iowa’s offense bought right into a rhythm once more, and put collectively a 6-0 run because of a pair of Clark free throws, a Warnock layup, and a Monika Czinano layup. Georgia known as timeout with 6:49 to play and Iowa main 64-56.

As they did all recreation, the Bulldogs responded properly out of the timeout. They buried a 3 on their subsequent possession to chop Iowa’s result in 5 factors. Each groups then traded baskets and Iowa held a slender 66-61 lead with 3:50 to play.

Georgia hit one other shot out of a timeout to chop Iowa’s result in three factors (66-63). Iowa responded with two Czinano free throws. Iowa then bought a steal on a Czinano tipped ball, however she was whistled for a foul on the different finish. Georgia hit one other three-pointer to make the rating 68-66 with 2:19 to play.

Iowa labored the ball into Czinano on the following possession, however her shot rimmed out. Georgia had an opportunity to tie or retake the lead, however the Bulldogs turned it over as an alternative. Iowa had two beauty on offense on the following possession, however neither went down.

On the opposite finish, Georgia dribbled into bother and handed the ball on to Clark. Clark then ran off block, earlier than driving into the paint and hitting a troublesome runner off the backboard to place Iowa up 70-66 with 43.6 to play.

After one other Georgia timeout, Iowa made an enormous defensive cease, with Kate Martin tipping an entry cross and the ball touchdown within the fingers of Czinano.

The sport nonetheless wasn’t over, as Clark threw a nasty cross that was intercepted by Georgia’s Diamond Battles. Battles dribbled the size of the ground, however Iowa was in a position to get again properly on protection and contest her layup try. Iowa rebounded the missed layup and dribbled out extra clock earlier than getting fouled with 13 seconds left. Iowa was not but within the bonus, although, so the Hawkeyes weren’t in a position to head to the free throw line but.

Iowa inbounded the ball once more and was in a position to dribble one other 10 seconds off the clock earlier than Marshall was hit within the face on a foul within the nook. The Bulldogs had been whistled for an intentional foul after video overview, and eventually it was chips and salsa time. Clark sank each free throws, and with Iowa retaining possession with its 6-point lead, the sport was basically over.

That didn’t cease a annoyed Georgia staff from making an attempt to take some extra flesh with it. Clark acquired the inbounds cross and was shoved down as she was fouled. Georgia was whistled for an additional intentional foul, this time and not using a overview. Clark went again to the road and sank each free throws once more earlier than Iowa ran the final couple seconds out to complete off a 74-66 victory.

Caitlin Clark led Iowa with 22 factors, although she shot simply 6/17 from the ground and 4/10 from 3-point vary. Her passing brilliance was on show once more, although, as she racked up 12 assists. At one level within the second half, Clark had scored or assisted on 25 consecutive Iowa factors. Clark additionally led Iowa with three steals.

Monika Czinano did not have her best capturing efficiency (9/16) with Georgia’s bodily inside protection, however she completed with 20 factors, together with 9 rebounds.

Gabbie Marshall completed with 15 factors on 5/9 capturing (5/8 from distance). Her 3-point capturing within the first half — when she had 12 factors on 4/4 capturing from deep — was a vital a part of Iowa’s offense.

McKenna Warnock was the ultimate Iowa participant in double figures in scoring, with 14 factors on 5/11 capturing, together with 8 rebounds and a pair of assists.

Kate Martin had solely 3 factors on 1/4 capturing, however she had 5 assists made a number of key performs all through the sport, together with the tipped cross that Czinano hauled in for a steal late within the recreation).

Additionally of word — Iowa relied very closely on the beginning 5 on this recreation. All 5 starters performed 37+ minutes (Clark performed all 40 minutes), with Clark, Warnock, and Martin taking part in each minute within the second half.

Iowa had a really depleted bench for this recreation, with Hannah Stuelke reportedly turning her ankle in apply yesterday and Molly Davis showing to endure a leg harm on a scramble for the ball early within the recreation. Davis returned to the bench after a quick examination within the locker room, however solely re-entered the sport for the ultimate 4 seconds. Her standing for the Candy 16 recreation in Seattle has not but been disclosed.

A full field rating is offered right here.

Sunday’s win implies that Iowa is again within the Candy 16 for the primary time since 2021 and for the third time in Iowa’s final 4 NCAA Event appearances. The Hawkeyes will play the winner of tomorrow’s Duke-Colorado recreation within the Candy 16 within the Seattle 4 Regional. Date, begin time, and TV data for that recreation aren’t but accessible.