Iowa Battles To The End, Loses To Top-Ranked Connecticut [PHOTOS]

The Iowa Hawkeye women's basketball team fought with everything they had in their Sweet 16 game against the Connecticut Huskies, but they just didn't have enough. In the final minutes, they simply wore out, leading to a final score that was the largest margin of the game, 92-72. UConn is now 27-1. This is only their 5th game of the year decided by 20 points or less. Iowa finishes the season at 20-10.

In a game that featured the nation's two best freshmen, it was rebounding that played one of the biggest factors in the outcome. UConn outrebounded Iowa 42-25, including a 15-7 advantage on the offensive boards. The Huskies had a 26-12 edge on the boards in the first half and led 49-35 at halftime. The second-chance opportunities were too much for Iowa to overcome.

UConn, the top-ranked team in the nation in the final AP poll of the regular season, also outshot the Hawks from the field. In the first half, they scathed the nets with 56 percent shooting from the field to 37 percent for Iowa. They didn't cool off in the second half, shooting nearly 55 percent for the game. Iowa ended the day at 43 percent.

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The battle of freshmen superstars was pretty even. UConn's Paige Bueckers scored 18 points to go along with 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Iowa's Caitlin Clark scored 21 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and dished 5 assists. Iowa's other top scorers were McKenna Warnock, 20; Monika Czinano, 14; Gabie Marshall, 12; Kate Martin, 5.

Not a single member of this year's team that played significant minutes is graduating. The 2021-22 season of Iowa women's basketball promises to be an even greater one.