Angel Reese Propels LSU Over Michigan 66-42 To Advance To Sweet 16
Kim Mulkey and her Tigers have done it. They’re headed to the Sweet 16. LSU dominated from start to finish in their Round of 32 matchup against Michigan, and after taking home a 66-42 victory, they’re headed to face Utah next Friday.
Angel Reese did what she does best on Sunday, propelling LSU down the stretch after a historic performance, and lifting the Tigers to their first Sweet 16 since 2014.
Here are the instant takeaways:
The Angel Reese Show
Reese has had her fair share of legendary games this season. She’a an All-American for a reason. The sheer dominance on Sunday night has the chance to go down in the history books as one of the most gifted performances she’s had in her career.
The First Team All-SEC forward ended the night with 25 points, 24 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 6 blocks. From start to finish Reese proved it was her moment, and after overcoming a busted lip on the first possession of the game, she came back with something to prove.
Reese continued to provide second chance opportunities for the Tigers, and with the help of her frontcourt sidekick LaDazhia Williams (10 points and 10 rebounds), the two took apart the Wolverines’ defense.
Defensive Dominance, Turnover Battle
LSU held Michigan to seven first quarter points and followed it up by limiting them to just eight points in the second quarter. After going into the half up 30-15, all momentum was owned by the Tigers. It started by forcing turnovers and never slowed down.
LSU ultimately won the turnover battle in this one by a significant margin (16-7). With Reese totaling three steals of her own and Kateri Poole adding another three, the defensive masterpiece the Tigers put together propelled them down the stretch.
Poole was inserted into the starting lineup on Sunday over Jasmine Carson to be the defensive anchor the Tigers needed. For Poole, she ended the night with just 3 points but her contributions on the other end of the floor took over. For Carson, her second quarter performance uplifted the Tigers after hitting three triples, ballooning LSU’s lead heading into halftime.
It Takes A Village
Offensively, it was the Reese show, but on defense the game was changed. With the help of Poole, it was a different story. When this squad is getting contributions from top to bottom, they’re as scary of a program as there is.
Alexis Morris and Flau’jae Johnson handled business in the backcourt, combining for 19 points and elevating the guards to big-time plays down the stretch for LSU. In what many believed would be a battle the Tigers would struggle with on the perimeter due to their lack of size, Angel Reese and LaDazhia Williams quickly handled business to get it done.
It's been Reese handling much of the load this season, but with the help of Williams on the glass, her production went a long way against the Wolverines.
It takes a village, and Reese has stated before that when this team is clicking on all cylinders they're lethal, and Sunday night it was just that.
LSU will face Utah next Friday in the Sweet 16.
