Effectively, it would not be the ladies’s NCAA Event if there wasn’t some controversy.
Iowa beat UConn within the second nationwide semifinal Friday evening, however the buzz after the sport wasn’t on Caitlin Clark or the championship matchup Sunday with undefeated South Carolina.
It was on a foul name. And this time, it wasn’t in regards to the lack of a whistle.
Aaliyah Edwards was known as for an offensive foul whereas attempting to set a display on Gabbie Marshall with lower than 4 seconds remaining.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma confirmed his excessive frustration.
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ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt and Andraya Carter didn’t agree with the decision, both.
“I hated the decision. You’ve bought to offer Gabbie Marshall credit score for attempting to battle over the display. That’s what drew the refs’ consideration in,” Carter stated on “SportsCenter” after the sport. “However to me, now that ultimate play it’s not about Iowa protection. It’s in regards to the name the referee made. There was a slight lean, perhaps Aaliyah Edwards’ elbow was barely out. However to be trustworthy the calls had been even for each side. There have been missed requires Iowa. There have been missed contact for UConn. To make that decision on the very finish of the sport – to me it took away the chance for gamers to make performs. … To be trustworthy, that decision sucked.”
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Clearly, ideas had been divided in the course of the post-game information conferences and within the locker rooms.
Edwards stated she thought the play was “clear.”
Paige Bueckers took a broader strategy to what transpired within the ultimate 4 seconds.
“Gamers play. Gamers resolve the sport.
“Everyone could make a giant deal out of 1 single play however one single play doesn’t win or lose a basketball recreation,” Bueckers stated. “… You’ll be able to take a look at one play and say oh that killed us or that damage us. We must always have completed a greater job, I ought to have completed higher job ensuring didn’t go away the sport as much as that.”
Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke praised Marshall, who’s among the many nation’s high defenders. “Gabbie is nice in these conditions. She all the time comes up with large performs, a block or no matter.”
Marshall informed USA TODAY Sports activities within the locker room that she might really feel the elbow. “There’s video of it.” She added she remembered three or 4 of these calls Friday evening.
The officiating throughout this event has come underneath the highlight earlier than.
Hannah Hidalgo sat out greater than 4 minutes of Notre Dame’s Candy 16 recreation to take away her nostril ring. This after officers informed her earlier than the sport she might cowl it as an alternative of eradicating it. Hidalgo stated she had performed with the piercing all season. She known as it “BS” and stated it disrupted her recreation.
And in a second-round recreation in Raleigh, North Carolina, an official was changed at halftime when it was found she had obtained a level from one of many colleges taking part in, however did not disclose it earlier than tip-off.
Lindsay Schnell and Nancy Armour reported from Cleveland
