ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Iowa State and LSU don't want to play each other Monday night.
It's not that they don't appreciate the challenge of rematching last year's national championship game, but both teams wish the stage could have been a little wider.
“We're talking about growing the game,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. “Didn't that national championship game have the highest ratings in women's basketball history? You'd probably expect this one to do the same, but it would have to happen in the Final Four.”
There are also plenty of stories. It's not just a rematch, it's a matchup between last year's champion and the No. 1 seed. Now, two of the game's biggest and most competitive stars, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, will square off once again.
“We have two very talented players who have brought a lot of attention to our sport,” Mulkey said. “They both talk trash. They both make their teammates better. They both push their teammates. They both bring our game to people who have never watched women's basketball before. He brought it up to the point where I could see it.”
But, of course, these teams are different from the one they played last April and the Tigers won 102-85.
LSU is now without its three leading scorers for that game. Forward LaDasia Williams (20 points) and guards Jasmine Carson (22 points) and Alexis Morris (21 points).
He will be replaced by forward Aneesah Moreau (16.5 points per game), a transfer from DePaul, and freshman guards Mikayla Williams (14.4 points) and Haley Van Lith (11.7 points), a transfer from Louisville.
“I thought they shot the three-ball. They rebounded really well,” Iowa coach Lisa Bruder said. He said, “We have five guys averaging double digits. When you have that kind of balance, it's really hard to defend.”
And it wasn't just Clark who scored 29 points and added 15 assists for Iowa State in the Hawkeyes' blowout win over Colorado in the Sweet 16.
Gabby Marshall and Kate Martin, who each scored 14 points against the Buffaloes, have stepped up to bigger roles this year. And 6-foot-2 Hannah Stuelke replaced Monica Zinano as the team's second-leading scorer.
“I really like Hannah’s game,” Reese said. “She's a strong post player. She's more versatile than Chinano, so we know she's going to have to guard her at a much higher level than she had to guard Chinano last year. ”
Clark said she learned some lessons from the loss a year ago and plans to be more aggressive this time around.
“The last time we played against LSU, I think we hit 19 total threes and 22 shots,” she said. “So I was able to stay calm and not get too hung up on my 3-point shot and get into the paint and drive into the paint. I think that allowed me to get my teammates open.”
defense challenge
Morris had the unenviable task of guarding Clark last year, but now plays for the Harlem Globetrotters. So this time it was up to sophomore Flau'jae Johnson to take over the job, albeit with a lot of help from his teammates.
“I want to compete at the highest level, and right now Kaitlyn is at the highest level,” she said. “So as long as I can protect her and contain her and let her win, we'll be fine.”
Step up
Iowa is once again expected to be without starter Molly Davis, who suffered a knee injury against Ohio State on March 3.
Junior Sydney Affolter replaced her in the starting lineup and is averaging seven points and six rebounds for the Hawkeyes. She scored 15 points in the Sweet 16.
“It was really easy for her to live there,” Bruder said. “She was always full of confidence. She was always so strong that she put a chip on my shoulder. I'm going to prove you the wrong type of kid. So it's very easy. Well, do I want Molly Davis back?''Certainly, I want Molly Davis back. However, I am very happy that Sid will show everyone what she is capable of. ”
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket/ and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness