Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark shoots against Connecticut Huskies guard Nika Muhl in the second quarter in the semifinals of the Final Four game. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: UConn defense smothers Iowa star Caitlin Clark

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 4/5/24

If No. 3 UConn advances to the NCAA women's national title game, the Huskies defense will be a major reason why.

In the first half of Friday's Final Four matchup with No. 1 Iowa, the Huskies did the impossible — stop star Caitlin Clark.

UConn frustrated Clark, who finished just 3-of-11 from the field for six points in the first half. Meanwhile, Clark failed to make a three-pointer in the first half of an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in her career, going 0-of-6 from beyond the arc.

UConn's defense held Caitlin Clark to just two points in the first quarter pic.twitter.com/T9MzzPT2mY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 6, 2024

Guard Nika Muhl routinely matched up against Clark and did a superb job. She not only held the all-time leading scorer to single-digit points but frustrated her into making three uncharacteristic turnovers in the opening half.

.@AaliyahEdwards_ caught stealin' #WFinalFour x ESPN / @UConnWBB pic.twitter.com/VRnUoaM69N
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 6, 2024

Luckily for the Hawkeyes, they only trailed the Huskies by four at the break, 32-26. But, they'll need Clark to bounce back and improve on poor shooting night from the field (38 percent) and three (21 percent) if they hope to advance.

Nika Muhl had Caitlin Clark LOCKED UP in the first half

UConn leads 32-26 pic.twitter.com/kRiaFl7w4Y
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) April 6, 2024

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