Clark dream over as South Carolina downs Iowa to win US college crown

LOS ANGELES – Caitlin Clark's dream of a fairytale ending to her record-breaking women's college basketball career ended in disappointment on Sunday (Monday Manila time) as South Carolina overpowered Iowa, 87-75, to win the US collegiate crown.

In her final game in college basketball before she heads to the professional ranks of the WNBA, Clark finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists at Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse arena.

But it was not enough to stop the University of South Carolina's all-conquering lineup from crowning their undefeated season with a deserved victory.

Clark had led from the front in a blistering start by Iowa that saw the Hawkeyes rattle off 10 unanswered points following the opening tip-off.

A trademark 3-point jumper from Clark put Iowa into an 18-7 lead and then two free throws helped her team into a 20-9 lead shortly afterwards.

But after regrouping following the early onslaught, South Carolina came roaring back to get within two points at 22-20 after Tessa Johnson's layup.

South Carolina moved into the lead for the first time in the game midway through the second quarter after a layup from the 6ft 7in Brazilian center Kamilla Cardoso.

Although Iowa hit back soon afterwards with another Clark three-point jump shot which put her team 44-40 up, South Carolina refused to roll over, and took the lead after Te-Hina Paopao's third three of the first half made it 47-46.

A rare blunder by Clark then gifted a steal to Raven Johnson, who raced to the basket unopposed for a layup that made it 49-46 at half-time.

South Carolina kept its foot down at the start of the second half, jumping out to a nine-point lead at 55-46

Clark led a stirring Iowa rally to make it a two-point game at 57-55, but the Gamecocks responded with an 8-0 run that took the game away from Iowa once more.

South Carolina stretched its lead to 14 points at 76-62 with just over seven minutes remaining, exploiting its advantages in height to never let Iowa back into the contest.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Clark and Gabbie Marshall helped claw the score back to 76-70, but South Carolina would not be denied, its defense slamming the door to keep Iowa at arm's