Gus MartinDes Moines Register
Caitlin Clark and No. 1 seed Iowa women's basketball team continued their 2024 NCAA Tournament journey with a Sweet 16 victory against No. 5 Colorado on Saturday.
Check below and refresh the page to follow live game updates, highlights and analysis:
GAME STORY: No. 1 seed Iowa women's basketball cruises by Colorado to set up LSU rematch in Elite 8
FINAL: Iowa 89, Colorado 68
A relatively easy win for Iowa sets up a 2023 NCAA Tournament championship rematch against LSU on Monday.
Q4/1:39 Iowa 87, Colorado 68 - Gabbie Marshall 3s ice the game
A trio of Gabbie Marshall triples to start the fourth quarter essentially secured the victory for Iowa.
Clark and the other starters were subbed out. She finished her amazing performance with 29 points and 15 assists.
Q4/8:09 Iowa 71, Colorado 50 - Bluder regroups
After a 3-3 start to the fourth quarter, Lisa Bluder decided to call a timeout and refocus her team.
End 3: Iowa 68, Colorado 47 - Clark finds 3-point stroke
A pair of 3s by Clark toward the end of the frame got her team's momentum back and energized the crowd. She's got 25 points, 12 assists and six rebounds.
Sydney Affolter has also been stellar today with 15 points on 6-for-6 shooting. Her addition to the starting lineup after Molly Davis got injured has given Iowa another capable inside scorer and transition target for Clark to find for assists.
Iowa should cruise to victory if it stays focused.
Q3/4:30 Iowa 58, Colorado 45 - Buffaloes battle back
Colorado came out of that timeout determined to not let this game slip away and immediately went on a 13-4 run to get back within striking distance.
The Buffaloes' shift to a zone defense flustered Iowa's formerly red-hot offense, and head coach Lisa Bluder is surely using this break to adjust the team's offensive strategy.
Iowa has not shot the 3-ball at a high rate today (4-for-12), but it might have to start hunting that shot more.
Q3/8:45 Iowa 54, Colorado 35 - Hawkeyes come out firing
A 6-0 run out of the locker room, courtesy of assists to Sydney Affolter and Kate Martin from Clark, forced a Colorado timeout and Iowa fans in attendance to stand and cheer.
Clark now has a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists. Her passing this afternoon has been some of the best and most efficient of her career.
The Buffaloes are in danger of letting this one get out of hand.
Halftime Iowa 48, Colorado 35 - Clark, Hawkeyes in complete control
Clark finished the half with 15 points, eight assists and zero turnovers on 7-for-11 shooting, putting forth one of the superstar's most efficient first halves of the season. Her ability to consistently penetrate the paint and manipulate defenders in the pick-and-roll repeatedly gave Colorado fits.
The team's offensive performance overall, too, matched the quality that Iowa displayed for much of the season before it's struggles last game. The Hawkeyes shot 61.3% from the field, despite making just three triples.
The defense was also solid, forcing Colorado into just 34.1% shooting and five turnovers. The Buffaloes have particularly struggled from deep (3-for-14), and will need to get hot from behind the arc to mount a comeback.
Q2/4:28 Iowa 36, Colorado 26 - Clark, Martin in foul trouble
Clark continues to dominate and is now up to 13 points and seven assists, but both she and Kate Martin have a pair of fouls. It's a concerning development for the Hawkeyes as the duo is leading the offense right now.
But Iowa's offense has gotten everyone involved thus far, with all five starters having made at least one shot and the team is shooting 60% from the field. The defense has been strong as well with no Buffaloes player appearing to be in rhythm right now.
End 1: Iowa 22, Colorado 14 - Clark doing it all early
Although she's 0-for-3 from behind the arc, Clark has scored or assisted on 19 of Iowa's 22 points and has six assists and zero turnovers, including a highlight dime to Hannah Stuelke for a buzzer-beater.
Her dribble penetration has consistently collapsed Colorado's defense and generated open shots for her teammates. If she can find her shooting stroke, Iowa should be in good shape.
Q1/4:51 Iowa 15, Colorado 7 - Hawkeyes doing work inside
Typically a high-volume 3-point shooting team, Iowa appears determined to establish an offensive presence in the paint as six of its seven made field goals were at the basket.
The lone long ball came from Gabbie Marshall, a good sign after the veteran went scoreless last time out.
Still, Iowa has been sloppy with the ball with three turnovers already.
Gabbie Marshall breaks Iowa women's basketball career games played record
Now with 163 career games played, Iowa guard Gabbie Marshall breaks her tie with Monika Czinano for the No. 1 spot in career games played with the Hawkeyes.
Iowa vs Colorado women's basketball Sweet 16 is underway in Albany
After a thriller between LSU and UCLA to open the afternoon at the Albany Sweet 16 site, Clark and the Hawkeyes are finally battling Colorado for chance to play the defending national champions on Monday.
It should be a good one.
Tip-off pushed back to 2:54 p.m. CT, winner to play LSU in Elite 8
After the LSU vs. UCLA game went long, Iowa vs. Colorado will now tip-off at 2:54 p.m. CT on ABC and ESPN3.
And because the Tigers prevailed 78-69, the winner will play LSU in the Elite 8 on Monday.
Is Molly Davis playing today for Iowa women's basketball?
Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes and their fans, guard Molly Davis is still on the mend from her knee injury she suffered in the team's final regular-season game.
Head coach Lisa Bluder on Friday deemed Davis "doubtful" to play against Colorado, and sounded frustrated about the longer-than-anticipated recovery process for her starter.
"I don't know. I really thought she'd be back by now. I really did," Bluder said. "I have no idea how long it's going to take for her to completely heal, but we're not going to put her out there when it's unsafe for her to be out there."
Full story: Iowa women's basketball's Lisa Bluder provides pessimistic Molly Davis injury update
What channel is Iowa women vs. Colorado on today? How to watch, stream live
- TV channel:ABC
- Stream:NCAA March Madness Live app |More: Watch Iowa women vs. Colorado in the Sweet 16 on SLING TV (subscribe today)
Iowa will tip off vs. Colorado on ABC.Streaming options include Sling TV. Announcers for the game are Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe.
Iowa women vs Colorado start time, TV info, location
- Start time:2:30 p.m. CT
- TV info:ABC
- Location:MVP Arena in Albany, N.Y.
Iowa women vs. Colorado game preview
- Leistikow: On Iowa women's basketball's matchup vs. Colorado, Caitlin Clark's demeanor
- Iowa women's basketball's Lisa Bluder provides pessimistic Molly Davis injury update
- Should it take center stage again, Iowa women's basketball confident in defensive product
- Leistikow: The fun and joy of Iowa women's basketball; 'It's not like this everywhere'
- Sweet 16 schedule has Iowa, Caitlin Clark 'driving through the smoke' with eyes on title
Iowa State vs Illinois odds, betting line, spread
Odds according toBetMGM
- Spread:Iowa -7.5 (-105), Colorado +7.5 (-115)
- Over/under:157.5 (-110)
- Moneyline:Iowa (-350), Colorado (+260)
Iowa women vs Colorado prediction, game picks
Iowa 82, Colorado 75 — The game plan is known about how to best play Iowa, and that's primarily with a physical brand of defense. Colorado is capable of executing that, but against a great player like Clark, who's yet to have a hot-shooting game in the tournament, and a Hawkeyes group that's sure to be better prepared to combat such defense, Iowa should pull out another close victory.
More: Iowa women vs. Colorado in March Madness: Prediction for 2024 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Iowa women vs Colorado stats
Iowa
- PPG:92.0
- PPG allowed:71.2
- FG%: 49.9%
- 3PT%: 37.6%
- NET ranking:5
Colorado
- PPG:75.4
- PPG allowed:63.5
- FG%: 46%
- 3PT%: 35.6%
- NET ranking:16
Iowa women vs Colorado championship odds
Odds according toBetMGM:
- Iowa (+600)
- Colorado (+12500)
Iowa women's basketball schedule 2023-24
The past five games of Iowa women's 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, clickhere
- March 25 vs. West Virginia (W, 64-54)
- March 23 vs. Holy Cross (W, 91-65)
- March 10 vs. Nebraska (W, 94-89 OT)
- March 9 vs. Michigan (W, 95-68)
- March 8 vs. Penn State (W, 95-62)
Colorado women's basketball schedule 2023-24
The past five games of Colorado women's 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, clickhere
- March 24 vs. Kansas State (W, 63-50)
- March 22 vs. Drake (W, 86-72)
- March 7 vs. Oregon State (L, 85-79 2OT)
- March 6 vs. Oregon (W, 79-30)
- March 2 vs. Washington State (L, 72-63)
Gus Martin is a Digital Producer/Content Director for The Des Moines Register. Follow him on X at@GusMartin_DMR.
