Tag: Aneesah Morrow

LSU women’s basketball survives against UCLA, advances to the Elite Eight

LSU is moving on to the Elite Eight for the 10th time in program history.

It was a battle for four quarters, but the LSU women’s basketball team survived in the Sweet 16 against No. 2-seeded UCLA, overcoming a deficit in the final frame to win 78-69.

The Tigers advanced to their 10th Elite Eight in program history and reached the quarterfinal round of the tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2007-08.

The first quarter was neck-and-neck, with both teams tied at 15 entering the second quarter. Eight of those 15 points for LSU were scored by [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag].

The Tigers controlled the second quarter, outscoring the Bruins 19-12 as they took a 34-27 lead over the higher-seeded team heading into the locker room.

UCLA flipped the script in the third quarter, however. It outscored the Tigers by seven and reclaimed the lead. LSU ultimately tied it at 48, but it was an entirely new ball game heading into the fourth quarter.

Both teams found themselves in foul trouble in a back-and-forth fourth quarter with [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag], [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] and [autotag]Aalyah Del Rosario[/autotag] all picking up four.

Though it played from behind for a lot of the final quarter, LSU took a lead in the final two minutes, and a clutch layup from Johnson put the Tigers up four. An offensive foul on the other end gave the Tigers the ball back up two possessions with 39 seconds to play.

LSU extended its lead to six, but Reese fouled out with 31 seconds to play. Still, the Tigers’ defense held up without her, and they made their free throws down the stretch to salt the game away.

Johnson was once again the offensive star, finishing with a game-high 24 points while also adding 12 rebounds. Reese also finished with a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) despite fouling out, while Morrow (17 points) and [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag] (12) also scored in double figures.

Now, LSU will move on to face the winner of Iowa and Colorado in what will either be a rematch of last year’s national title or this year’s season opener. That game will be on Monday night.

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LSU’s Aneesah Morrow after Tigers advance to Sweet 16: ‘We’ve got to have coach Mulkey’s back’

“We’ve got to play hard and for one another — and that’s as simple as it is,” Aneesah Morrow said after Sunday’s second-round win.

LSU’s women’s basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 on Sunday afternoon in back-to-back years for the first time since 2013-14 with an 83-56 win over Middle Tennessee.

The run to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament for the Tigers comes in the wake of some possible impending controversy off the court, as news leaked earlier this week that The Washington Post is working on an investigative report about coach [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] and the LSU program.

Mulkey addressed the report on Saturday in fiery terms, and while some players like Angel Reese said after Sunday’s game that they were not aware of the situation, forward [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] said that she had heard about it.

“Coach Mulkey’s had our back all year, so we’ve got to have Coach Mulkey’s back,” she said, per ESPN. “We’ve got to play hard and for one another — and that’s as simple as it is.”

LSU will move on to face either UCLA or Creighton, which face off in the second round on Monday night, in the Sweet 16 on Saturday in Albany, New York.

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Instant Analysis: LSU women’s basketball pulls away in second half to beat Middle Tennessee, advance to Sweet 16

The Tigers are moving on to their 16th Sweet 16 in program history.

The Tigers struggled early once again, but like in the first round against Rice, coach Kim Mulkey’s team ultimately pulled away to win in the second round of the NCAA tournament against Middle Tennessee State on Sunday.

This time, it trailed at halftime but dominated the second half en route to an 83-56 win. Now, the Tigers will move on to face either No. 2-seeded UCLA or No. 7-seeded Creighton in the Sweet 16.

LSU led for nearly the entire first quarter and by as much as eight in the frame, but a Middle Tennessee three in the final seconds cut the lead to five entering the second quarter.

The Blue Raiders won the second frame, however. They went on a 14-2 run at one point to take a six-point lead — its largest at that point — with less than two minutes to play in the half.

LSU hit a shot to end a 1 of 8 shooting streak in the final minutes of the frame, but it still entered the locker room facing a 36-32 deficit. Middle Tennessee opened the second half hot and stretched its lead out to nine, but LSU quickly answered with a 10-0 run as it erased the deficit and tied the game.

The Tigers stayed hot and ultimately led by 10 entering the fourth after outscoring MTSU 27-13 in the third.

The fourth was more of the same. LSU outscored the Blue Raiders 24-7 in the final quarter as it completely took control. [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] led the way in this one with 21 points, while [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] (20 points, 11 rebounds) and [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] (19 points, 13 rebounds) both turned in double-doubles.

LSU shot just 43% in the game and only won the rebounding battle by two, but it forced 16 MTSU turnovers while only committing nine itself.

Now, the Tigers are moving on to their 16th Sweet 16 in program history and will await the winner of the game between the Bruins and Blue Jays, which is set for Monday night.

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PHOTOS: LSU moves past Rice in NCAA Tournament opener

It was a little close for comfort but the Tigers advanced to the second round to face Middle Tennessee.

It was a bit too close for comfort at times, but the LSU women’s basketball team beat Rice 70-60 in its NCAA Tournament opener on Friday afternoon. With that win, the Tigers advance to face No. 11-seeded Middle Tennessee, which upset Louisville in its opener, on Sunday.

The Tigers led by just three at halftime, but they ultimately managed to pull away in the second half. [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] had a 10-point, 19-rebound double-double while [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] led the team in scoring with 15 points.

As the Tigers prepare for another matchup with a double-digit seed on Sunday, here are the photos from Friday’s win.

LSU women’s basketball survives against Rice in NCAA Tournament opener

The Tigers will move on to face Middle Tennessee in the second round.

It was much more anxiety-inducing than the 28.5-point spread would have indicated, but the LSU women’s basketball team survived and advanced as the No. 3 seed in its NCAA Tournament opener against Rice on Friday afternoon.

It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for coach Kim Mulkey’s team, which led just 30-27 at the half. LSU pulled away to an 11-point lead at the end of the third, though, and while the Owls made a couple of runs in the fourth, they couldn’t close the gap.

[autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] finished with a double-double with 10 points and 19 rebounds, while [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] (15 points), [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] (14) and [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag] (14) also scored in double figures.

After Louisville was upset by Middle Tennessee in its opener, the Tigers will now face the No. 11-seeded Blue Raiders in the second round on Sunday.

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ESPN lists LSU’s Angel Reese, Aneesah Morrow among top players in women’s NCAA Tournament

The Tigers boast two of the biggest stars in the entire tournament.

LSU stars [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] and [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] have racked up quite a few accolades since the conclusion of the regular season.

Reese is the SEC Player of the Year, and both have been featured on All-SEC and All-American lists. So, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the pair are among the best players in the entire 2024 NCAA women’s tournament.

ESPN recently put out its rankings of the 25 best players in the field, and both Reese and Morrow made the cut. Reese cracked the top 10, coming in at No. 10 after becoming the first SEC player in more than 30 years to lead the league in scoring and rebounding in back-to-back seasons.

Reese ranks second in Division I in rebounding, one of LSU’s biggest strengths and a key to the Tigers defending their national championship. They are third in D-I — and first among Power 5 teams — on the boards (46.5 RPG). Only five players have repeated as the Final Four Most Outstanding Player; the last to do so was UConn’s Breanna Stewart, who won the honor all four of her seasons (2013-2016). Reese could repeat this year, but LSU first must get through what looks like the toughest region just to advance to the Final Four.

Morrow comes in just a few spots later at No. 15.

Morrow didn’t get a chance to play in the NCAA tournament last season; her team then, DePaul, didn’t make the field. She transferred to LSU and has formed a powerful duo with Reese. Morrow is second on the team in scoring and rebounding, and leads in steals and blocked shots. She might be the X factor for LSU in this NCAA tournament because she’s so capable of huge performances.

[autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag], the SEC Freshman of the Year, was also listed as an honorable mention for the Tigers.

Coach Kim Mulkey’s team is a No. 3 seed in the tournament and will begin its run on Friday afternoon against Rice at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

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LSU’s Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow named to AP All-American teams

Angel Reese earned Second Team honors, while Aneesah Morrow was an honorable mention.

LSU women’s basketball stars [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] and [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] were honored as members of the postseason USBWA All-American teams on Tuesday, and now the Associated Press has followed suit.

Both Reese and Morrow appear among the AP All-American teams that were announced on Wednesday. Reese, who was a First-Teamer per the USBWA, is a Second-Teamer per the AP. Morrow, meanwhile, is also an honorable mention on the AP teams.

Reese built on a record-setting campaign last season, becoming the first player since Vanderbilt’s Wendy Scholtens in 1989-90 to lead the SEC in both scoring and rebounding in back-to-back seasons.

Morrow is a DePaul transfer who leads the team in steals and blocks while averaging double figures in scoring and rebounding, as well.

Reese, Morrow and the rest of the Tigers will return to the court on Friday as they host Rice at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

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Angel Reese, Aneesah Morrow named to USBWA All-American teams

Angel Reese was named to the First Team, while Aneesah Morrow is an honorable mention.

The regular season is in the books, and LSU’s women’s basketball team is turning its attention to the NCAA Tournament. It’s a No. 3 seed and looking to defend its national title this season behind last year’s star [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] and transfer addition [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag].

Both were honored by the USBWA All-American teams, which were released Tuesday. Reese is a First Team All-American, while Morrow was named an honorable mention.

Reese has double-doubled in 12 straight games, and she became the first player since Vanderbilt’s Wendy Scholtens in 1989-90 to lead the SEC in scoring (19.0) and rebounding (13.1) in back-to-back seasons.

Morrow, meanwhile, is a transfer from DePaul and is averaging 16.3 points and 10 rebounds on the season. She also leads the team in steals (87) and blocks (41).

Reese, Morrow and the Tigers will be back in action on Friday afternoon as they host No. 14-seeded Rice in their first-round game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

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Instant Analysis: LSU women’s basketball comes up short in rematch against South Carolina in SEC Tournament championship

In a game that featured some drama late, the Tigers didn’t have enough to knock off the unbeaten Gamecocks.

The LSU women’s basketball team was looking for revenge on Sunday after a loss to South Carolina on its home floor early this season, but the top-seeded, undefeated Gamecocks were too much for the Tigers.

They were overpowered in a 79-72 loss as South Carolina, the regular season league champs, added another tournament title to its repertoire.

LSU led for much of the first quarter, but it found itself trailing by three by its end. South Carolina looked to expand that lead in the second and did by as much as seven, but LSU fought back and cut its deficit to 36-32 heading into halftime.

It was a big half for [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag], who led the way for the Tigers with 11 points.

South Carolina opened the third quarter on a 10-1 run and stretched what was at that point a game-high 13-point lead. But LSU wouldn’t go away, cutting into that lead and chipping it down to six entering the fourth quarter.

LSU trimmed the lead down to one in the final frame, but it couldn’t recapture the lead.

The final quarter also featured an ugly moment. After an intentional foul from [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] led to some shoving, Gamecocks star Kamilla Cardoso shoved Johnson to the ground, leading to a bench-clearing brawl and the reported arrest of Johnson’s brother, who entered the court in response.

Every player who left the bench was ejected with 2:08 to play in addition to Cardoso, who will additionally be suspended for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

It wasn’t a banner day offensively for the Tigers, who shot just 37%. Morrow was the standout with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double, while [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] had a double-double as well with 15 points and 13 rebounds while playing through pain.

[autotag]Hailey Van Lith[/autotag] scored 14, while Johnson finished with 13.

Now, the Tigers will await their NCAA Tournament next Sunday. They’re widely projected to be a No. 2 seed and would host the first two rounds in Baton Rouge if that’s the case.

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Instant Analysis: LSU takes down Ole Miss in SEC semifinal, advances to championship game vs. South Carolina

The Tigers advance to their first SEC championship since 2012, where they will look for revenge against the Gamecocks.

The LSU women’s basketball team withstood a third-quarter rally to beat Ole Miss 75-67 in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal on Saturday night, and now coach Kim Mulkey’s team will advance to its first conference championship game since 2012, where it will face South Carolina in the rematch.

Ole Miss shot just 3 of 17 in the first quarter, and the Tigers managed to stretch a 19-12 lead in the frame with [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] and [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] combining for 15 points.

The Rebels cut the lead to four in the second quarter, but LSU subsequently stretched it back out to 11 and took a 36-28 lead to the locker room.

The third quarter was a different story, though. Ole Miss got back in the game, outscoring the Tigers in the frame and cutting their lead to just two entering the final period.

The Rebels couldn’t keep LSU from pulling away, however, in large part thanks to some clutch shooting from Johnson, who finished with 21 points. Angel Reese also scored 21 while adding 17 rebounds, and Aneesah Morrow had a double-double of her own with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

It wasn’t all good news for the Tigers, however. Guard [autotag]Last-Tear Poa[/autotag], an important rotational player, was stretchered off the court after seemingly hitting her head. She was taken to a local hospital.

The Tigers will be back in action on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT as they look to get their revenge against South Carolina.

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