Iowa survives a battle with Connecticut, returns to national title game

Source: Washington Post
Author: Jesse Dougherty

CLEVELAND -- When it was over, when the buzzer sounded and Iowa led by two points, Caitlin Clark caught the ball out of the air -- a ball tossed toward the rafters to run the clock out -- and smiled. She pumped her fist. To beat Connecticut, 71-69, Clark had to find a rhythm in the second half, rely on her teammates and navigate a finish that might have been a classic until a questionable call changed the complexion of the final moments.

The Huskies had 9.3 seconds left and were trailing by a point. But before Paige Bueckers could catch a pass on the wing, a referee whistled Aaliyah Edwards, U-Conn.'s star forward, for an illegal screen. What would have happened without the whistle? We'll never know. Instead, Clark heads to the national championship game Sunday -- when Iowa will face undefeated South Carolina -- after finishing the semifinal with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.