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Hailey Van Lith shrugs in defeat following Caitlin Clark three-pointer

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•04/01/24•

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Apr 1, 2024; Albany, NY, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) controls the ball against LSU Lady Tigers guard Hailey Van Lith (11) in the fourth quarter in the finals of the Albany Regional in the 2024 NCAA Tournament at MVP Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2024; Albany, NY, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) controls the ball against LSU Lady Tigers guard Hailey Van Lith (11) in the fourth quarter in the finals of the Albany Regional in the 2024 NCAA Tournament at MVP Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Caitlin Clark showed no signs of slowing down during Monday’s Elite Eight game against LSU. She dropped an incredible 41 points on nine made three-point attempts. At times, nobody can believe what Clark is pulling off — even the opposition.

LSU’s Hailey Van Lith had a tough time guarding Clark, especially in the second half. At one point, Van Lith had to accept defeat after watching another shot go through the hoop. A look and feeling many facing off against Iowa have likely felt in recent times.

Clark was coming off the dribble, going to her left. Van Lith put up a good contest but somehow, Clark made the shot. ESPN’s cameras caught the LSU star’s reaction, shrugging her shoulders and looking like she had no idea what else she could do to defend Clark.

You can watch Van Lith’s full reaction here.

It wound up just not being LSU’s day, sending them home in the Elite Eight. Iowa has been on a tear all season and nobody has been able to slow Clark down yet in the NCAA Tournament.

Maybe whoever winds up winning UConn–USC will have a better game plan to defend her. Because based on one reaction, Van Lith had a rough day at the office.

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Caitlin Clark describes emotions of returning to Final Four

For just the second time in program history, Iowa is heading to the Final Four. Both have occurred in the last year under the leadership of Clark, setting all kinds of records along the way. The Hawkeyes’ latest conquest came on Monday against LSU in Albany, winning a rematch of last year’s national championship game.

The moment Iowa lost last season, the goal for Clark was to get back to the Final Four and attempt to cut down the nets herself. Mission accomplished and Clark did so with a 40-point performance.

She described the feeling of a second consecutive run to the Final Four, admitting this year’s win felt better than it did in 2023.

“This one probably feels a little better,” Clark said in a postgame interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “It’s my senior year with this group. A lot of people counted us out at the beginning of the year with the people we lost. All we did was work really hard. To get back here, it was really hard. This region was loaded with so much talent. Job’s not finished.”