Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers lead Iowa, UConn to Final Four | Ronel Blanco throws historic no-hitter

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THE IOWA HAWKEYES AND THE UCONN HUSKIES

Caitlin Clark is running out of history to make, but you had to know whatever she would claim next, it would come in grand fashion. And Monday, it did indeed, with a side of revenge served cold, too. The Iowa superstar exploded for 41 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds to lead the top-seeded Hawkeyes to a 94-87 Elite Eight win over No. 3 seed LSU in a rematch of last season’s title game.

Here are the latest accolades for Division I’s all-time leading scorer:

• Second career 40-point, 10-assist NCAA Tournament game; all other players — men and women — have zero
• Third career 40-point NCAA Tournament game, most all-time
• Nine 3-pointers, tying a women’s tournament record (and her own career high)
• Most career 3-pointers (540) in women’s Division I history
• Most career assists (140) and 3-pointers (70) in women’s NCAA Tournament history

With all eyes on her, Clark was simply marvelous. From Albany, Erica Ayala writes about how the Hawkeyes used pace to wear down the Tigers.

• Ayala: “[Iowa coach Lisa] Bluder knew that for her team to be successful against LSU, she had to get Clark moving downhill — not only to get her to the foul line, but also to break down opposing team’s defense. Mission accomplished.”

She’ll get a similarly marvelous opponent in the Final Four. Paige Bueckers (28 points, 10 rebounds) led No. 3 seed UConn to an 80-73 win over No. 1 seed USC and freshman phenom JuJu Watkins in the last regional final of…