NCAA Tournament Live Updates/Thread: LSU vs. Hawaii

Tigers host the Rainbow Wahine in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as Kim Mulkey's program gets things started.

Final: LSU 73, Hawaii 50

Fourth Quarter

Score Update: LSU 60, Hawaii 38

LSU starts the fourth quarter shot out of a cannon. After Alexis Morris started the night 0-for-6, she's hit back-to-back jumpers to get on the books. 

A team that has the ability to get hot in a hurry from downtown, the Tigers forcing them inside has been a major takeaway in this one. 

Hawaii has made just 11 field goals through three quarters, and with Angel Reese getting it done with her sheer size and strength, all 11 have been earned buckets. 

End of the third: LSU 48, Hawaii 33

Third Quarter

Tigers have forced 17 turnovers with 11 of them coming on steals. Additionally, LSU has added eight blocks. It hasn't been the prettiest offensive showing but it's been productive defensively. 

Hawaii looking to get in a groove from deep after starting the second half with a pair of triples. 

LSU comes out with the same energy on both ends of the floor to start the final half. Forcing turnovers defensively and getting to the rim on offense. 

End of the Half: LSU 35, Hawaii 22

Second Quarter

Hawaii has no answer for Angel Reese inside. She's up to 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting with a pair of blocks on the other end of the floor. Rainbow Wahines sticking around in this one. Tigers lead 31-22 with 2:33 remaining. 

Score Update: LSU 27, Hawaii 15

Last-Tear Poa breaks the cold spell from three-point range as the Tigers knock down their first triple with 5:30 remaining in the half. 

Tigers are getting everything they want in the paint. Despite being 0-of-5 from three, LSU leads 23-11 with 7:43 remaining in the half. 

End of the first quarter: LSU 18, Hawaii 7

First Quarter

Turnover margin is significant in the first quarter. LSU is working a man-to-man defense that is giving Hawaii fits. Tigers have forced seven turnovers with two minutes remaining in the quarter. 

Score Update: LSU 8, Hawaii 5 - 3:57 remaining

Tigers have forced five turnovers through the first five minutes of the game. Alexis Morris with a pair of her own. LSU continues showing tremendous energy through the first 10 minutes. 

LSU's starting off hot defensively with three steals in the first two minutes of the contest. Flau'jae Johnson and Alexis Morris heckling Hawaii. Tigers capitalize to take a 4-3 lead. 

Hawaii's Lily Wahinekapu knocks down a three and the Rainbow Wahine get on the board first. 

Pregame

LSU's starting lineup:

G: Alexis Morris 

G: Flau'jae Johnson

G: Jasmine Carson 

F: La'Dazhia Williams 

F: Angel Reese

Hawaii's starting lineup: 

G:Kelsie Imai 

G: Lily Wahinekapu

G:Meilani McBee

F: Kallin Spiller 

F: Imani Perez

Who To Watch For The Tigers

We know what we're getting from Angel Reese, but what about the other Tigers? 

Alexis Morris, playing in her final NCAA Tournament, has been hot for the Tigers with four consecutive games with at least 20 points, shooting 50-percent from the field during that stretch. Morris was limited during the NCAA Tournament last season after she suffered a sprained knee during LSU’s final home regular season game a year ago. After getting healthy over the summer and taking on a new role as the team’s main point guard, Morris has averaged 15.1 points and 4.1 assists per game.

With Morris limited in last year’s tournament, LSU had a second-round exit after falling to Ohio State. Now the Tigers’ goal is to win one more game in the tournament than they won last year. Morris is the only contributor back from last year’s squad as the Tigers added nine new pieces in the offseason.

The SEC Freshman of the Year Flau’jae Johnson has made an immediate impact for LSU in her first season as the team’s third leading scorer at 11.8 points per game.

In Hawaii, LSU will face a team that is hot with five wins in a row and champions of the Big West Tournament. In the championship game against UC Santa Barbara, Hawaii erased a 15-point second half deficit.