Friday was Final Four night in women’s college basketball, and in the evening’s first game, South Carolina’s Lady Gamecocks stayed undefeated for the season, dispatching the Wolfpack of North Carolina State, 78-59.
The game the nation wanted to see in Cleveland was the night’s second, matching Number 1 seed Iowa, and Caitlin Clark, against Number 3 Connecticut and Paige Bueckers. It didn’t start well at all for Clark and her team, who were 33 & 4 going in. UConn came out firing well from the floor and keeping Clark from doing the same, so the Huskies led by 8 to 11 points most of the first half, and 32-26 at the intermission. But Iowa did come on through the 2nd half, taking its first lead, then having players like Clark stepping up to preserve and expand that, the Hawkeyes’ biggest lead reaching 64-57 with about 6 ½ minutes left. Inside post Hannah Stuelke kept getting assist passes, becoming the game’s leading scorer with 23 points, and UConn went cold from 3-point range in the 2nd, only shooting 2 for 11, after making 5 of them in the 1st. It was still a tight battle, right down to the last 30 seconds, Iowa leading by a single point. That’s when Clark got fouled on an inbounds pass with only 3 seconds left, making the first of her 2 free throws. Then a jump ball went out, and the possession arrow gave the ball to Iowa with 8 tenths on the clock– those expired with the ball in Clark’s hands, the Hawkeyes hanging on to win 71-69. That puts Iowa up against South Carolina for the women’s national championship tomorrow.
Tonight, the men’s Final Four will decide who plays Monday for that N-C-Double-A title, the semi-final games in Phoenix pitting defending champs and top overall seed Connecticut against Alabama, and NC State against Purdue, led by national men’s Player of the Year Zach Edey.
Congrats again to South Decatur senior Jacob Scruggs. Jacob’s one of the top 60 senior high school boys’ basketball players in the state, according to “Hoosier Basketball” magazine. They’re being honored for their outstanding year with a Senior Workout tomorrow at Marian University. Jacob was one of only 8 of the 60 who averaged more than 20 points a game in his senior season, with 24.8.
In baseball, the Reds got home from their road trip Friday, but had a tough time against the Mets at Great American… the final 3-2 New York. Cincinnati and the Mets match up again this afternoon, and the broadcast comes to you beginning at 3:40, only on the Sports Voice, 103.9 FM, WRBI.
And in the NBA last night, the Pacers knocked off the Thunder at Gainbridge, 126-112.