The LSU women’s basketball team will begin their NCAA Tournament run Friday afternoon in the P-MAC. The Lady Tigers earned a three-seed in the tournament this year after a 28-2 season and second place finish in the SEC. They came up short in the SEC tournament, blowing a 17 point lead to Tennessee, but will hope to bounce back against 14-seeded Hawaii. All-American forward Angel Reese has led the Tigers this season with 23 points and 15 rebounds a game, and Coach Kim Mulkey said she’s elevated her game after the tough loss.
“Her being a big part of that last play against Tennessee and she didn’t what she was supposed to do, I think it gnaws at her. She’s had very good practices, not that she doesn’t, but I have been able to say to the staff that she’s on another level again right now.”
LSU hosts a heavy three-point shooting Hawaii team that could provide some offensive mismatches with the size of LSU. The Rainbow Wahine have won their last five games and made the tournament thanks to a thrilling 61-59 comeback win over UC Santa Barbara in the Big West Conference Championship. Mulkey said she got a chance to watch the game live and knows not to underestimate this group.
“I remember the young lady who slipped the screen and got an and-1 and her interview after the game, and the reporter asked her, ‘Were you surprised?’ and she said, ‘No I’m a winner. I’m a winner,’ is what she told that reporter. If you’ve got players on your team that have that mentality, they’re bringing it. We better be ready.”
Tip-off is at 4:30
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