UConn threw everything it had at Caitlin Clark. Her teammates lifted her up when she needed it most. – Sports News (Trending Perfect)

CLEVELAND — Kate Martin felt at peace throughout the NCAA Tournament. The fourth quarter of a tie game against 11-time national champion Connecticut in the Final Four was no different.

It didn't matter that she didn't shoot the ball well, or that she committed some bad turnovers. It also didn't matter that Caitlin Clark, the star viewed as Iowa's champion, wasn't making it to the third transition in great numbers. Martin knew his season wouldn't end because this team was confident in themselves, each other, and Iowa basketball.

“We stayed really poised. Because we've been in tough situations before and we know we can score quickly when we need to,” Martin said.

They also know the team is bigger than Clark, coach Lisa Bluder said 30 hours ago. That proved prophetic as Clark had to work hard to have a mediocre night, by her standards, as she recorded 21 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four turnovers in a 71-69 win over UConn.

“Going to the national championship game, everyone advances,” Clark said. “It's not just me. It's not just one player. That's not what this is. We wouldn't be at this point now if there was just one player. And everyone comes in and makes really big plays when we need them.”

Iowa basketball Martin is making big shots in the fourth quarter after struggling in the first three. It's Sidney Affolter stepping up after serving as a sixth man all season, grabbing the offensive rebound that secured a repeat berth in the national championship game. It's Gabe Marshall who makes everything difficult for former Naismith Big Pickers winner. And it was Hannah Stolke who got them on the right track early by leading the scoring attack.

“If you gave me the stat sheet without the final score before the game, I would have said we won the game,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said.

Stuelke hit all three shot attempts for six first-half points to keep Iowa State in contention as Clarke struggled from distance and was 3-of-11 with a handful of layups. The sophomore finished with 23 points, a team-high 9 of 12. This is only the second time since February 12, 2023, that a player other than Clark has led the team in scoring. That other time was Stuelke's 47-point game in February.

“She did a great job of getting us buckets when some of the guards were struggling to score at times,” Martin said. “I thought she did a good job of keeping them off the bounce and finishing around the rim.”

Iowa State entered the half trailing by six despite a poor first half and the game was tied at 51 heading into the final 10 minutes. Stuelke nailed a layup and Clark hit a step-back 3, a rarity in this one, to go up by five. It remained a one-possession game until Stuelke scored in transition off a turnover and Martin took over, hitting powerful jumpers in the paint. It earned six points in fourth place after scoring five points during the first three quarters.

“Kate Martin, what a warrior,” Bluder said. “That baby, she's not going to be denied that in the fourth quarter.”

Affolter made key plays throughout, but none more so than securing an offensive rebound off a rare free throw that Clarke missed to finally end the game.

“We never had any doubt in our minds and just kept pushing and pushing,” Affolter said. “We kept our heads down and put in a good performance in the second half.”

Marshall had another solid defensive game on the star. Bueckers scored 17 points while shooting 7 of 17 and making 3 of 8 on 3s. She had four rebounds, three assists and four turnovers.

“She doesn't get enough credit,” Bluder said. “She guards one of the best players in the country and challenges her a lot.”

Confidence is a word Iowa players often use in relation to and for each other: instilling confidence in Stuelke that she can play with the best post in the country; Confidence that Marshall will make the final defensive play if necessary; And confidence that the players around Clarke are just as good.

And for Martin, it's confidence that Iowa State will make it to the final day of NCAA-allowed practices this season. Assistant coach Jan Jensen said she has seen calmness in Martin, who wants to be a coach, during this postseason and they have long relished the fact that they want to continue coaching.

“I think the most important thing in my opinion is that the team feels the way the coaches feel, [that] “You want to win because you want the whole prize, but you don't want it to end,” Jensen said. “And when it motivates you, it's just a special group.”