When the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament bracket was released two weeks ago, one of the biggest takeaways was the potential for an Elite Eight clash between Iowa and LSU. That potential is now a definite.
Flau’jae Johnson and LSU used a 30-point fourth quarter to edge UCLA, 78-69, in a game that was tied after three frames in Albany. Johnson tallied 24 points and 12 rebounds in the win, while Angel Reese also contributed a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
It's a final in Albany!
Defending champs @LSUwbkb move on with a 78-69 win over UCLA!
The 5th of the Elite 8 of @MarchMadnessWBB is locked in.@IowaWBB vs @CUBuffsWBB is up next.@LanceMedow & @_kimadams have the call of that one as well. pic.twitter.com/3cBns3tVaN
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 30, 2024
Caitlin Clark and Iowa cruised in the second game of the day, knocking out Colorado 89-68. Clark scored a game-high 29 points and dished out 15 assists.
⏳HALFTIME IN ALBANY⏳
Caitlin Clark leads all scorers with 15 first half points
(1) @IowaWBB: 48
(5) @CUBuffsWBB: 35🗣️: @LanceMedow & @_kimadams
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🔊: "Alexa, open Westwood One Sports!" pic.twitter.com/k9ntsW8E5h— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 30, 2024
Trailing by four entering the final quarter, 1-seed USC rallied to advance to its first Elite Eight since 1994 with a 74-70 win over 5th seeded Baylor in Portland.
JuJu Watkins 30-point effort leads @USCWBB past @BaylorWBB 74-70 as they advance to their first #Elite8 in 30 years! 👏
🗣️: @M_Chaz & @kristablunk#MarchMadnessWBB #Sweet16 pic.twitter.com/sv1XxpQlEu
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 31, 2024
UConn closed out the day with a gritty 53-45 win over Duke, clinching the program’s 28th Elite Eight appearance in the last 39 seasons. Paige Bueckers scored a game-high 24 points for the Huskies.
@UConnWBB advances to its 28th Elite Eight in program history with a 53-45 win over Duke in Portland.
Hear the final call from @M_Chaz ️: #BleedBlue | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ntHLYPouQC
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 31, 2024