LSU is bringing a national title back to Baton Rouge with a 102-85 win over Iowa thanks to a first-half onslaught led by an unlikely player: Jasmine Carson. The West Virginia grad transfer scored 21 over the opening 20 minutes, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and 5-for-5 from 3-point range, to help build a 17-point lead even Caitlin Clark and Iowa couldn’t come back from.
The Hawkeyes fought back in the second half, going on a 15-2 run in the third quarter, but foul trouble for Clark and Monika Czinano left them without enough offensive firepower to complete what would’ve been the biggest comeback in NCAA Tournament history. Instead, LSU won 99-82 to claim its first ever national title. The Tigers’ 102 points marked the most ever in a women’s baskettball national championship game.