Live Updates/Thread: LSU vs. Utah in Sweet 16 Matchup
Final: LSU 66, Utah 63
Fourth Quarter
Alexis Morris gets fouled with 10 seconds remaining and goes to the free throw line calm, cool and collected. She knocks them down to give LSU a 64-64 lead.
Score Update: Utah 63, LSU 62
Utes take the lead 63-61 with under a minute remaining. Angel Reese gets fouled, goes to the line and goes 1-for-2.
Utah goes on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 61 with 1:20 remaining led by Gianna Kneepkens. LSU's lead vanishes quickly as the Utes turn defense into offense.
Score Update: LSU 55, Utah 52
LaDazhia Williams continues to have the game of her career here in the fourth quarter. She's up to 23 points on 11-of-13 from the field with six rebounds. The Missouri transfer is doing all she can to keep the Tigers afloat.
LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson picks up her fourth foul while Reese is on the bench. It's been a tough outing for the SEC Freshman of the Year - 0 points on 0-for-7 shooting.
Angel Reese once again cramping up for the Tigers and exits the game shortly but returns for LSU.
End 3Q: Utah 47, LSU 46
Third Quarter
LaDazhia Williams is up to 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting, keeping the Tigers within striking distance.
Score Update: Utah 42, LSU 41 - 3:24 remaining
Angel Reese is getting in a rhythm here as LSU goes on a 10-2 run. Reese is up to 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Utah star Alissa Pili picks up her third foul. Both programs are in foul trouble early but the Tigers are getting production from others here early.
Williams is on fire. She's up to a game-high 15 points and on a 6-0 run by herself. Tied at 37 with 6:43 remaining in the quarter.
LaDazhia Williams picks up right where she left off to start the second half for LSU. She cuts to the basket and gets the layup to fall. Williams is up to 13 points for the Tigers, getting it done while Reese deals with foul trouble.
End 2Q: Utah 33, LSU 29
Second Quarter
Utah knocks down their fifth triple of the half. LSU struggling to fight through screens and the Utes are making the most of it after going on a 6-0 run.
Score Update: Utah 30, LSU 29
LaDazhia Williams has taken over this game ever since Reese went out with foul trouble. She's up to nine points on 4-for-6 shooting with seven of them coming in the last four minutes.
Williams and Alexis Morris are doing all they can in this one. The two have combined for 13 first half points while Angel Reese is on the bench in foul trouble. Tigers with a quick 7-0 run to tie things at 25.
Foul trouble for the Tigers: Angel Reese, LaDazhia Williams and Kateri Poole all with two personal fouls.
Score Update: Utah 21, LSU 18
Angel Reese picks up her second foul of the game with 8:11 remaining in the half. Kim Mulkey subs her out immediately with freshman forward Sa'Myah Smith.
Kennady McQueen knocks down the three to start the second quarter and suddenly the Utes have taken the lead. Utah has forced five LSU turnovers already.
End 1Q: LSU 16, Utah 16
First Quarter
LSU now without a bucket in four minutes, shooting 0-for-7 during that stretch.
Utah responds with a run of their own to cut the Tigers' lead to just one point. The Utes are spreading it around, getting their entire starting lineup involved.
Score Update: LSU 13, Utah 6 - 5:22 remaining
LSU getting production from their guards early in this one. Alexis Morris with four quick points with Kateri Poole adding five of her own in her second start of the tournament.
Utah gets two free throws on the following possession but the Tigers go on a quick 7-0 run to take a 9-2 lead with 7:15 remaining in the quarter.
LSU guard Alexis Morris gets fouled on a three-point attempt and knocks down two of three free throws to get things underway in Greenville.
Pregame
LSU's starting lineup:
G: Alexis Morris
G: Flau'jae Johnson
G: Kateri Poole
F: LaDazhia Williams
F: Angel Reese
Notes:
- LSU handled its business and took down Hawaii and Michigan in the first two rounds and advance to its first Sweet Sixteen in nine years. Angel Reese put up huge numbers, leading the Tigers in the two victories. She averaged 29.5 points, 19.5 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals in the first two rounds. Reese tied the LSU NCAA Tournament record with 34 points against Hawaii and set the LSU NCAA Tournament record with 24 rebounds against Michigan.
- Reese enters the weekend with 30 double-doubles this season, one shy of the SEC record that is held by Mississippi State’s Teaira McCowan who had 31 during the 2018-19 season. Reese is also climbing towards to LSU single-season rebounding record, 37 away from setting the record. She also enters the game ranked No. 6 on LSU’s single-season scoring list.
- Alexis Morris, the only returning contributor on a team with nine new pieces, has led LSU’s offense efficiently all season, scoring the ball for the Tigers and distributing it. The freshman Flau’jae Johnson has also played a key role, starting every game for the Tigers as their third leading scorer.
What Mulkey Said:
“I wanted this year for our team to show progress, and we have,” said Coach Kim Mulkey who, in her second year at LSU, has led the Tigers to the Sweet Sixteen. “We’ve shown progress. I don’t think there’s any area that we went backwards. That’s what you want to keep doing.”
“We’re not just an Angel Reese one-man show,” Coach Mulkey said of her team. “If you watch us play, everybody has a role to play. We’re a mixture of transfers, one returning starter, freshmen, go eight deep, and everybody just does what they do.”
