Iowa vs. Colorado 2024 NCAA women’s basketball Sweet 16 score updates, highlights, analysis

ALBANY, N.Y. — Just like last year. Only, more emphatically. Second-ranked Iowa played loose, free and happy, and left No. 17 Colorado behind, 89-68, in an NCAA women’s basketball regional semifinal Saturday afternoon at MVP Arena.

It was Iowa’s second straight Sweet 16 conquest of the Buffaloes. Last year in Seattle, it was 87-77.

Saturday, it was more one-sided.

Caitlin Clark played her best game of the postseason (29 points, 15 assists, just two turnovers), and all five starters reached double figures.

All five starters scored before the first media timeout, and the Hawkeyes led 15-7 after making seven of their first nine shots from the floor.

Colorado got within 17-14, but a Martin 3-pointer and a basket at the horn by Stuelke extended the lead back to eight.

It was 48-35 at halftime, and the Hawkeyes led by 27 points twice in the fourth quarter.

Sydney Affolter made all six of her floor shots in a 15-point gem. Gabbie Marshall and Martin scored 14 apiece, Stuelke 11 points and 10 rebounds.

— Jeff Linder