Survive, advance and play for the national championship. Iowa's Final Four game plan worked out, as the No. 1 seed beat UConn, 71-69, to advance to its second straight title game.
The Final Four contest looked to be Huskies at the start.
UConn senior Nika Mühl put all the pressure on Caitlin Clark, and the Hawkeyes' superstar didn't score a single 3-pointer in the first half. Before Friday night, she had never failed to score from behind the arc in the first half of any NCAA Tournament game in her career.
With 12 turnovers through the first two quarters, Iowa trailed, 32-26, at the halftime break. UConn's brick-wall defense gave the Huskies all the momentum.
The Hawkeyes came storming back, though, leaving the game all tied up at the end of the third quarter. Clark's 3s found their mark, and sophom*ore Hannah Stuelke came to life.
With 10 seconds left, Iowa held a one-point lead, but UConn held the ball and the chance for a buzzer-beater. But an offensive foul was called on Huskies senior Aaliyah Edwards with just four seconds left. The Hawkeyes took possession, and that spelled the end of UConn's postseason run.
For two UConn stars, the game brought an end to their NCAA careers. Seniors Edwards and Mühl will not return to Storrs next season and instead will head to the professional ranks.
Edwards contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, while Mühl finished with nine points and seven assists. Senior guard Paige Bueckers will return for another season at UConn. She notched 17 points.
MORE: Why UConn's Aaliyah Edwards is wearing a face mask in the Final Four
Iowa showed it could win even with a relatively quiet night from Clark, who had 21 points and nine rebounds. Stuelke recorded a game-high 23, while Kate Martin added 11 points and eight rebounds for Iowa
The best is yet to come, as the Hawkeyes prepare to face undefeated South Carolina in the championship game Sunday.
The Sporting News live tracked results and highlights from Iowa vs. UConn in the 2024 Women's Final Four. Follow below for updates.
STREAM: Watch Iowa vs. South Carolina live with Sling TV
Iowa vs. UConn score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
| Iowa | 14 | 12 | 25 | 20 | 71 |
| UConn | 19 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 69 |
Caitlin Clark stats
- Points: 21
- Rebounds: 9
- Assists: 7
- Steals: 2
- Blocks: 0
- FGs: 7-18
Paige Bueckers stats
- Points: 17
- Rebounds: 4
- Assists: 3
- Steals: 0
- Blocks: 0
- FGs: 7-17
Iowa vs. UConn results, highlights from 2024 Women's Final Four
All times Eastern.
Final: Iowa 71, UConn 69
11:32 p.m. – That's it! Iowa survives.
10:28 p.m. – An offensive foul is called on the Huskies. Hawkeye ball with 4.6 to go.
10:27 p.m. – Ten seconds. Iowa 70, UConn 69. Huskies with the ball.
11:24 p.m. – Steal, shoot, score. Nika Mühl hits the 3, and it's a one-point game with 39 seconds to go.
ONE POINT GAME pic.twitter.com/JhwRJ0GwUv
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) April 6, 2024
11:18 p.m. – That's three 3s for Bueckers! she makes it a four-point deficit for UConn.
11:13 p.m. – Gabbie Marshall from the arch! After review, the shot is good for two. Iowa leads by 66-57 midway through the fourth.
11:05 p.m. – That's 21 for Stuelke!
End of third: Iowa 51, UConn 51
10:59 p.m. – Affolter lobs it in for her eight point of the night! Iowa has the lead 51-49.
10:54 p.m. – Mühl and Kate Martin both head back to their respective locker rooms for injury evaluations.
10:46 p.m. – Ice, Ice Brady.
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) April 6, 2024Ice Brady
10:36 p.m. – Clark with her first 3 of the night!
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) April 6, 2024CC for 3️⃣#Hawkeyes
10:35 p.m. – Stuelke is the first Hawkeye to 10! Iowa still trails 31-36
Halftime: Iowa 26, UConn 32
10:15 p.m. – KK Arnold with 10! The freshman can't be stopped as the Huskies lead 30-22.
10:08 p.m. – Bueckers with the big bucket!
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) April 6, 2024Paige Bueckers
FOR THREE pic.twitter.com/vfMF9xDW5z
10:06 p.m. – Points off turnovers: UConn 13, Iowa 2. That's a 7-0 Husky run.
10:02 p.m. – Too easy for the All-American. Aaliyah Edwards is up to four points, four steals and three rebounds.
AAliyah Edwards with the steal-and-score! pic.twitter.com/AlgNgB5DUE
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) April 6, 2024
End of first quarter: Iowa 14, UConn 19
9:49 p.m. – Clark may be tough to stop, but she has nothing on Nika Mühl. The senior nails a three over the Hawkeye for her sixth point of the night.
9:40 p.m. – Hannah Stuelke gets on the board, but Iowa still trails 13-7.
9:33 p.m. – Clark gets the first basket of the night!
9:32 p.m. – Here. We. Go. UConn takes first possession.
9:25 p.m. – Here's how each time lines up in Cleveland.
— Kyle Huesmann (@HuesmannKyle) April 6, 2024IOWA HAWKEYES STARTING LINEUP
PG Caitlin Clark
G Gabbie Marshall
G Kate Martin
F Syd Affolter
F Hannah StuelkeUCONN HUSKIES STARTING LINEUP
PG Nika Muhl
G Paige Bueckers
G KK Arnold
G Ashlynn Shade
C Aaliyah Edwards
8:58 p.m. – That'll do it! South Carolina gets its spot in the championship game. Who joins them, UConn or Iowa, will be determined in 30 minutes.
8:38 p.m. – It's safe to say South Carolina will beat NC State in the first Final Four game. The Gameco*cks lead by 23 with eight minutes to go.
7:28 p.m. – Kristin Juszczyk, the wife of 49ers' KyleJuszczyk and viral designer, comes in clutch with another Caitlin Clark item.
— crys; 🏈 (@crystalscuor) April 5, 2024kristin juszczyk with a SLAM DUNK caitlin clark final four jacket 🔥🏀
peep kyle at the end. these two are goals. pic.twitter.com/zXU32ciKJF
6:35 p.m. – Let's just say it's a good day to for UConn.
— espnW (@espnW) April 5, 2024Eight years ago today, Breanna Stewart and the UConn Huskies won their fourth national championship in a row 🏆
Will they earn a another title this year? pic.twitter.com/k6H8IPHW0G
5:42 p.m. – She may be a dog, but she doesn't like the Huskies. Air Corgi goes with Iowa in the semifinals.
Air Corgi makes her UConn vs. Iowa Final Four picks 🐶 pic.twitter.com/dS2E8nzy4a
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 5, 2024
5:11 p.m. – WBB turns NFL. Vikings versus Chiefs.
— shakeia (@curlyfro) April 5, 2024the vikings (paige bueckers) and chiefs (caitlin clark) have posted cheering them on.
this is mad cute! pic.twitter.com/4grFRbuuoB
What channel is Iowa vs. UConn on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream:Sling
Both Final Four games will be broadcast on ESPN. Cord-cutters can stream the game onSling.
MORE WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR COVERAGE:
- Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers by the numbers
- Caitlin Clark 'loved' UConn. Why didn't she go there?
- How Caitlin Clark will fit with WNBA's Indiana Fever roster
- Why Paige Bueckers passed on WNBA for one more college year
- Inside the 2019 USA U-19 team with Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers
Iowa vs. UConn start time
- Date: Friday, April 5
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
The Final Four game between Iowa and UConn is on Friday, April 5. Tipoff begins 30 minutes after the semifinal game between South Carolina and NC State, or approximately 9:30 p.m. ET.
Women's Final Four schedule 2024
Final Four
Friday, April 5
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| (1) South Carolina vs. (3) NC State | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| (1) Iowa vs. (3) UConn | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN,Sling |
National Championship
Sunday, April 7
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| (1) South Carolina vs. (1) Iowa | 3 p.m. | ABC,Sling |
