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After a back-and-forth first half, LSU women's basketball exploded in the third quarter to take a commanding lead over Florida State in the NCAA Tournament Second Round on Monday.
The No. 3-seed Tigers came away with a 101-71 win in front of a rowdy PMAC crowd. They held the nation's leading scorer in Ta'Niya Latson to seven points in the second half.
Four of LSU's five starters ended in double figures, leading a team that shot 56.2% from the field. Mikaylah Williams was 10 of 12 from the field and knocked down all three of her attempted triples, finishing with 28 points. Aneesah Morrow and Sa'Myah both finished with 20-point double-doubles while Flau'Jae Johnson added 13.
The first half was a track meet. Both teams came out clicking on all cylinders offensively while pushing the pace of play. LSU took a 10 point lead in the opening frame but quickly lost it as foul trouble set in.
With Johnson and Williams on the bench for much of the second quarter, Florida State crawled back. Both sides exchanged blows and LSU's bench kept the Tigers in the fight, scoring 12 of the team's 19 points.
LSU quickly expanded on a one-point advantage coming out of halftime. It forced six turnovers and went on a 17-0 run over the last six minutes of the third quarter to take a commanding lead. The Seminoles were outscored 31-6 in the frame, putting any hope of a Sweet Sixteen berth to rest.
Here are five takeaways from LSU's win over Florida State
Head coach Kim Mulkey raved about her team's willingness to share the ball following Saturday's win over San Diego State. That play continued against Florida State
The Tigers totaled 29 assists in Monday's contest. Morrow led the way with seven while Smith and Shayeann Day-Wilson posted six and five, respectively. Eight players finished with at least one.
Many assists resulted from frequently driving the ball to the paint and either dumping it down to the block or dishing out to the perimeter. LSU scored at will in the paint, especially in the second half.
For the game, the Tigers scored 52 points inside. Morrow and Smith stayed consistent throughout the contest, even as the perimeter players struggled with fouls in the first half. Mjracle Sheppard, Kailyn Gilbert, and Day-Wilson not only found their post players but also helped secure rebounds on both ends of the floor.
LSU struggled to contain Latson and her teammates in the second quarter, especially as its guards dealt with foul trouble. The Seminoles scored 13 points in transition and 10 points off of eight turnovers, giving them the upper hand in determining the game's pace.
That script flipped quickly in the third quarter. Florida State turned the ball over on three straight possessions and was limited to one shot most of the time. On the other end, LSU cashed in during its large run. The Tigers take pride in their ferocity on the defensive end, which is what fueled their win.
Double-doubles are no big deal for Morrow. She had a partner-in-crime inside with Smith against Florida State. The junior forward played 36 minutes, the most of any player between both teams. She scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, including 10 on the defensive end.
Smith made all nine of her attempts from the field. She is one of three players on the roster who saw time in the national championship two seasons ago. With the season on the line, Smith came up big when her team needed it most.
LSU claimed a spot in the Sweet Sixteen for the third-straight season. A rematch of a non conference game awaits against No. 2-seed NC State. The Wolfpack bested Michigan State 83-49 to advance in the Spokane 1 region.
The Tigers took an 82-65 victory on a neutral court late November. The big three finished in double figures in addition to Gilbert, who added 12 points.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Five takeaways: LSU women's basketball beats FSU, heads to Sweet 16
Continue reading...
The No. 3-seed Tigers came away with a 101-71 win in front of a rowdy PMAC crowd. They held the nation's leading scorer in Ta'Niya Latson to seven points in the second half.
Four of LSU's five starters ended in double figures, leading a team that shot 56.2% from the field. Mikaylah Williams was 10 of 12 from the field and knocked down all three of her attempted triples, finishing with 28 points. Aneesah Morrow and Sa'Myah both finished with 20-point double-doubles while Flau'Jae Johnson added 13.
The first half was a track meet. Both teams came out clicking on all cylinders offensively while pushing the pace of play. LSU took a 10 point lead in the opening frame but quickly lost it as foul trouble set in.
With Johnson and Williams on the bench for much of the second quarter, Florida State crawled back. Both sides exchanged blows and LSU's bench kept the Tigers in the fight, scoring 12 of the team's 19 points.
LSU quickly expanded on a one-point advantage coming out of halftime. It forced six turnovers and went on a 17-0 run over the last six minutes of the third quarter to take a commanding lead. The Seminoles were outscored 31-6 in the frame, putting any hope of a Sweet Sixteen berth to rest.
Here are five takeaways from LSU's win over Florida State
Unselfish play continues from first round
Head coach Kim Mulkey raved about her team's willingness to share the ball following Saturday's win over San Diego State. That play continued against Florida State
The Tigers totaled 29 assists in Monday's contest. Morrow led the way with seven while Smith and Shayeann Day-Wilson posted six and five, respectively. Eight players finished with at least one.
Paint touches play a role
Many assists resulted from frequently driving the ball to the paint and either dumping it down to the block or dishing out to the perimeter. LSU scored at will in the paint, especially in the second half.
For the game, the Tigers scored 52 points inside. Morrow and Smith stayed consistent throughout the contest, even as the perimeter players struggled with fouls in the first half. Mjracle Sheppard, Kailyn Gilbert, and Day-Wilson not only found their post players but also helped secure rebounds on both ends of the floor.
Tigers defensive pace fuels third quarter run
LSU struggled to contain Latson and her teammates in the second quarter, especially as its guards dealt with foul trouble. The Seminoles scored 13 points in transition and 10 points off of eight turnovers, giving them the upper hand in determining the game's pace.
That script flipped quickly in the third quarter. Florida State turned the ball over on three straight possessions and was limited to one shot most of the time. On the other end, LSU cashed in during its large run. The Tigers take pride in their ferocity on the defensive end, which is what fueled their win.
Smith comes up big alongside Morrow
Double-doubles are no big deal for Morrow. She had a partner-in-crime inside with Smith against Florida State. The junior forward played 36 minutes, the most of any player between both teams. She scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, including 10 on the defensive end.
Smith made all nine of her attempts from the field. She is one of three players on the roster who saw time in the national championship two seasons ago. With the season on the line, Smith came up big when her team needed it most.
What's next?
LSU claimed a spot in the Sweet Sixteen for the third-straight season. A rematch of a non conference game awaits against No. 2-seed NC State. The Wolfpack bested Michigan State 83-49 to advance in the Spokane 1 region.
The Tigers took an 82-65 victory on a neutral court late November. The big three finished in double figures in addition to Gilbert, who added 12 points.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Five takeaways: LSU women's basketball beats FSU, heads to Sweet 16
Continue reading...
