Addison O’Grady slows Angel Reese, and Iowa quiets the chatter

ALBANY, N.Y. — You wanted chippy? You expected snarky?

You got precious little of either.

There were no parting shots, by either team, during or after Monday’s NCAA women’s basketball regional final at MVP Arena.

Just elite-level ball. Theater and drama, without the nonsense.

“There wasn’t much trash-talking at all,” Iowa’s Gabbie Marshall said after second-ranked Iowa dethroned No. 8 LSU, 94-87.

At the end, there wasn’t much for the Tigers to say.

With the game tied 45-45 at halftime, Iowa (33-4) opened the second half with a 20-7 run, and led by at least six points the rest of the way.

The Hawkeyes held LSU (31-6) to 15-of-47 shooting (32 percent) in the second half.

Yes, Iowa surrendered 87 points. And yes, the Hawkeyes played some defense.

Addison O’Grady finished with five points and four rebounds. But she was valuable in containing Angel Reese after Hannah Stuelke fell into foul trouble.

“I was definitely ready to get in there,” O’Grady said. “(LSU has) aggressive post players, and I knew I could be called upon. I was able to use my length to bother (Reese’s) shot, make her uncomfortable.”

Reese finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds, numbers that look great on the surface. But she shot 1-of-10 in the second half.

“I’m so thankful,” Iowa assistant coach Jan Jensen said. “It almost chokes me up. Addi was very impactful. She was able to change the cadence of what Angel likes to do.”

Stuelke had two fouls at halftime, and was whistled for her third, only 25 seconds into the third quarter.

“I’m super proud of Addi,” Stuelke said. “She stepped up and did what she had to do.”

Marshall added, “Addi came in and played confidently. She gave us some huge moments. We didn’t have to stop Angel. But once Angel shot, we had to box her out.”

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Reese fouled out on a charging call with 1:45 left and Iowa in control, 84-74.

When LSU beat Iowa for the national championship last year, it happened in front of an average viewership of nearly 10 million. The TV numbers for the rematch will be released Tuesday or Wednesday.

Whatever those numbers say, these two teams will be remembered, together, for elevating the women’s game to previously unheard-of heights.

It’s not a moment, someone said. It’s a movement.

“I think it's just great for the sport, just being able to be a part of history,” Reese said afterward. “No matter which way it went tonight, I knew this was going to be a night for the ages.

“Playing against another great player (in Iowa’s Caitlin Clark), of course, is always amazing, and our viewership going up. And I'm sure so many different people watched us tonight. I'm happy to be here, I'm happy to keep raising women's sports.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com