Courtesy of LSU athletics
For the second year in a row the LSU Lady Tigers season ended in the Elite Eight. LSU shot 37 percent from the field as they missed several shots they normally make in a 72-65. Coach Kim Mulkey says the game was lost in the second quarter when UCLA’s best player, Lauren Betts, was out of the game in foul trouble and the Bruins still outscored LSU 22-12.
“We did not take advantage of Betts being off the floor in the second quarter and we allowed perimeter 3s and other people to step up,” Mulkey said.
UCLA hit ten 3-pointers in the game. Timea Gardnier came off the bench and with her quick release, she made five threes. Gabriela Jacquez had four 3-pointers and had 18 points. Lauren Betts finished with 17 points.
LSU was led by Flau’jae Johnson who had 28 points, 24 of them came in the 2nd half. Aneesah Morrow had 15 points and seven rebounds. The Chicago native finished her college career with 1,714 rebounds, the third most in Division One history. She is also one of two players in NCAA D1 history with over 100 double-doubles as she finished with 104. She is also just one of eight players in NCAA D1 history with 2,500 points and 1,500 rebounds.
Morrow thanked Mulkey for making her one of the best college basketball players in the country, but it was not easy.
“Nobody in the country did what I did every night, nobody in the country did what I did in four years, and I’m honestly just proud of myself for overcoming as much as I overcame,” Morrow said.
LSU finishes its season with a 31-6 record. Morrow is out of eligibility and Johnson has the option to turn pro. Mulkey is bringing in the nation’s number-one high school recruiting class next season, but they’ll need new veteran players too.
“It’s time to get in the portal, this one leaves, this one goes, this one comes, so next year we’ll start this thing up again and see what team we have and go to work,” Mulkey said.
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