WBB NCAA Championship: Game Notes vs. No. 1 South Carolina

THIS WEEK1-Seed Iowa will face 1-Seed South Carolina in the National Championship of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. (CT) inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.

WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG» Sunday’s contest will air nationally on ABC, the Hawkeye Radio Network, and SiriusXM Channel 84.

AUDIO COVERAGE» Rob Brooks and Tiff Reedy will call the action on the Hawkeye Radio Network.» Brooks is in his eighth year as the play-by-play announcer for the Iowa women’s basketball team. He has been Iowa football’s sideline reporter since 2004. Brooks has called seven different Iowa sports on radio or television.» Reedy was four-year letterwinner from 2002-06 at Iowa and is a native of Dysart, Iowa.

THE SERIES» The all-time series is tied, 1-1.» In the last meeting, Iowa beat South Carolina in the National Semifinal in 2023.

SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA» Kamilla Cardoso scored 22 points and unbeaten South Carolina emphatically kept its perfect season going, advancing to the championship game of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a 78-59, victory over North Carolina State on Friday night.» The Gamecocks 37 wins is a school record.» South Carolina’s path: 16-Seed Presbyterian, 8-Seed North Carolina, 4-Seed Indiana, and 3-Seed Oregon State, and 3-Seed NC State.

IOWA’S 1-SEED HISTORY» The Hawkeyes have been a No. 1 Seed in the NCAA Tournament three times in school history. (1988, 1992, and 2024)» Iowa is 7-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament as 1-Seed.» UI has never played in the Final Four as a No. 1 Seed.

2023 NCAA TOURNAMENT IN REVIEW» Clark became the first player in DI women’s basketball history to notch a 1,000+ points and 300+ assists single season in 2023. Clark is closing in on that this season.» Clark produced the first 40-point triple-double in men’s or women’s NCAA Tournament history against UL. (41p, 12a, 10r)» Against Louisville and South Carolina, Clark was the first player to net back-to-back 40-point performances in the NCAA Tourney.» In month of March in 2023, Marshall was 23-of-47 from deep.

WHAT 2 WATCH 4» Clark has three 40-point double-doubles in an NCAA Tournament setting (Elite Eight, 2023; National Semifinal, 2023; Elite Eight, 2024).» Iowa is 9-4 when Clark records 40 or more points.» Marshall is 25-of-57 from deep in the last seven games.» Clark has 66 career games with 25+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds. (NCAA Best)» Over the last 25 seasons, no has recorded more 30+ point games in men’s or women’s college basketball than Clark. (58)» Martin has recorded 15+ points in 17 games this year which is a career best.» Clark has eight games of 10+ assists in the NCAA Tournament. (NCAA Best)» Since 2019, the Hawkeyes are 16-4 in the NCAA Tournament.» Martin and Clark have started 138 consecutive games together the longest streak by any Division I duo in the last 25 years.» Iowa is 5-0 when Martin records a double-double in 2023-24.» Clark has 21 games in her career with 35+ points, 5+ assists, 5+ rebounds which is the most in women’s college basketball since 2009.» Clark has registered 25+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds in 24 out of the last 31 games.» Among active players whom didn’t transfer, Marshall (129) and Martin (126) are third and fourth nationally for most active wins in a career.

GROUP EFFORT» Since Davis’ injury, Affolter is 33-of-60 from the floor, 10-of-16 from three point range, and 26-of-29 from the charity stripe.» Iowa broke the Big Ten’s single season record for 3-pointers made which was set by Iowa (350) a season ago. They Hawkeyes have made 417 treys this season.» Iowa has made 83 three-point baskets in postseason play.» Stuelke is 34-of-47 from the free throw line the last eight games.» Since February, Iowa is shooting 194-477 from three.» Iowa has assisted on 66% of its field goals this year.

LISA BLUDER’S LEGACY» Bluder owns 18 AP Top 10 wins which is the most in program history.» Has the 10th most wins in Division-I women’s basketball history and is third among active DI head coaches. (884)» Bluder is 23-17 all-time in NCAA Tournaments at Iowa.» Owns the most Big Ten conference wins in conference history.» Won seven Big Ten titles. (5 BTT’s and 2 Regular Season)» 1-of-27 Division I women’s basketball coaches to win 20+ games in the NCAA Tournament at one institution.» Coached two consenus National POYs.» Has coached the Hawkeyes to back-to-back Final Fours.» She has led UI to the Sweet 16 (2021), Elite Eight (2019), National Championship (2023) in three out of the last four championship seasons. (Covid)» Owns eight straight 20-win seasons. It is the longest streak in her career, C. Vivian Stringer had 10 consecutive 20+ win seasons from 1984-94.