LSU Women's Basketball Dominates Iowa to Win NCAA Championship

 

LSU defeats Iowa to clinch fourth NCAA title under Mulkey

The LSU women's basketball team claimed their fourth NCAA title under head coach Kim Mulkey on Sunday, ousting the Iowa Hawkeyes with a final score of 71-59.

After a hard-fought first half, LSU took control of the game in the second half, outscoring Iowa 42-29 to secure the victory. Senior guard Khayla Pointer led the way for the Tigers with a game-high 22 points, while sophomore forward Faustine Aifuwa added 16 points and 8 rebounds.

Mulkey, who joined LSU in 2021 after a successful tenure at Baylor, became just the second coach in NCAA history to win a national championship at multiple schools. She also won three titles with Baylor in 2005, 2012, and 2019.

In a post-game interview, Mulkey praised her team's resilience and credited their hard work and determination throughout the season for their success.

"I am so proud of these young women," Mulkey said. "They have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to get to this point. It's a credit to their character and their commitment to each other."

LSU finished the season with an overall record of 29-2 and won their first SEC title since 2013. With the victory over Iowa, the Tigers cemented their place as one of the top programs in women's college basketball and added to Mulkey's already impressive coaching resume.

The Tigers' victory over Iowa was a true team effort, with multiple players stepping up to make crucial contributions throughout the game. Freshman guard Destini Henderson came off the bench to score 11 points, while junior forward Awa Trasi added 10 points and 6 rebounds.

Defensively, LSU held Iowa to just 33.3% shooting from the field and forced 16 turnovers. The Tigers also dominated the rebounding battle, pulling down 45 boards to Iowa's 28.

Iowa was led by senior guard Caitlin Clark, who finished with 21 points and 7 assists. However, the Hawkeyes struggled to find consistent scoring outside of Clark, with no other player scoring more than 10 points.

Despite the loss, Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder praised her team's effort and resilience throughout the season.

"I couldn't be prouder of this group of young women," Bluder said. "They battled all season long and left everything they had out on the court tonight. LSU was just the better team tonight, but we have a lot to be proud of."

With the NCAA tournament now concluded, attention will turn to the WNBA draft, where several LSU players are expected to be selected. Pointer, Aifuwa, and Trasi are all projected to be taken in the first or second round of the draft.

For Mulkey and the LSU program, the future looks bright as they aim to continue their success in the years to come. With a talented roster and a proven winner at the helm, the Tigers will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the world of women's college basketball.