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LSU women's basketball's Sweet 16 game is a rematch.
The No. 3-seeded Tigers face NC State on Friday. The No. 2-seeded Wolfpack defeated No. 7-seeded Michigan State in the second-round. As part of the first Spokane regional, both teams will head to Washington for the game.
The first meeting between the two sides was LSU's first meeting vs. ranked opponent in the 2024-25 season. The No. 7 Tigers remained undefeated with a 82-65 win over No. 20 NC State. The Tigers made seven of their attempted 14 three-pointers in the contest.
Mikaylah Williams scored a game-high 24 points, including four triples. Morrow notched a double-double while Flau'Jae Johnson and Kailyn Gilbert also finished in double figures. NC State had four players finish with double-digit scoring.
Both teams come into the matchup with high-scoring offenses and hope to keep their seasons alive by advancing to the Elite Eight where the winner will face UCLA or Ole Miss. With Ole Miss still alive, LSU has the potential for another rematch when it gets to the Elite Eight.
Here are five things to watch in the game between LSU and NC State.
LSU surpassed 100 points and shot 50% or better from the field in both its first and second-round wins. Everyone is rolling offensively for the Tigers, from starters to bench contributors, in transition and half-court sets.
Will that confidence continue against NC State? The Wolfpack held Vermont to 55 points and Michigan State to 49 points in their NCAA Tournament victories. Both teams turned the ball over 13 or more times. NC State couldn't contain LSU for a full game the first time around but it gained momentum the last two games to compete defensively.
Both teams shot well from three-point range to begin the NCAA Tournament and a continuation could impact the final result on Friday. While neither team relies on the triple for wins, it certainly helps when playing against transition-minded teams.
LSU made 10 three-pointers in the win over San Diego State, then added a perfect three-of-three performance by Williams in the second round. The sophomore's hot streak is one to keep an eye on as she commands more attention for the defense. Kim Mulkey teams usually rank near the bottom nationally when it comes to made three-pointers, but when Williams is feeling it, LSU is dangerous from deep.
NC State knocked down an NCAA Tournament program-record 15 three-pointers against the Spartans, including six from leading scorer Aziaha James and five from Madison Hayes.
In the regular season match, LSU crushed NC State in rebounding with a 44-24 advantage. Morrow shouldered the load with 15, including 11 on the defensive end. She also limited the Wolfpack's leading rebounder Madison Hayes to four.
Since then, NC State took a by committee approach to winning the rebounding battle. Led by 7.3 from Hayes, the Wolfpack finished second behind Notre Dame in the ACC with 41.5 boards per game. The team particularly excels on the defensive end, limiting opponents' second chance opportunities.
Both teams achieved blowout victories in their first two games. During a long path to the Final Four where injuries have already reared their heads, it's crucial to keep the legs of starters fresh while also building confidence in bench players.
Every available player for LSU saw time in both March Madness games. In the first round against San Diego State, 10 of 12 players played over 11 minutes and only one starter played more than 25 minutes. After a third quarter breakthrough against Florida State in the second round, LSU's starters sat for much of the fourth quarter.
NC State also sent its entire bench into both games but the starters still played the majority of the minutes. In what was a close game through three quarters against Vermont, the starters played 27 or more minutes with three playing 32 or more.
Both teams are fighting for an Elite Eight berth and shot at either top-seeded-UCLA or fifth-seeded Ole Miss. LSU would look to avenge a loss in the regular season finale to the Rebels, which it played without Johnson as she dealt with a shin injury.
Should LSU get the win on Friday, it would be the program's third-straight trip to the Elite Eight.The Tigers saw their season end it that round last year in a rematch from the 2023 National Championship against Iowa.
NC State made it to the Final Four last year for the first time since 1998. It fell to national champion South Carolina by 19 points. The Wolfpack notched wins over Chattanooga, Tennessee, Stanford and Texas en route to winning the Portland 4 Regional.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: 5 things to know: LSU women's basketball facing NC State in Sweet 16
Continue reading...
The No. 3-seeded Tigers face NC State on Friday. The No. 2-seeded Wolfpack defeated No. 7-seeded Michigan State in the second-round. As part of the first Spokane regional, both teams will head to Washington for the game.
The first meeting between the two sides was LSU's first meeting vs. ranked opponent in the 2024-25 season. The No. 7 Tigers remained undefeated with a 82-65 win over No. 20 NC State. The Tigers made seven of their attempted 14 three-pointers in the contest.
Mikaylah Williams scored a game-high 24 points, including four triples. Morrow notched a double-double while Flau'Jae Johnson and Kailyn Gilbert also finished in double figures. NC State had four players finish with double-digit scoring.
Both teams come into the matchup with high-scoring offenses and hope to keep their seasons alive by advancing to the Elite Eight where the winner will face UCLA or Ole Miss. With Ole Miss still alive, LSU has the potential for another rematch when it gets to the Elite Eight.
Here are five things to watch in the game between LSU and NC State.
Its strength on strength when LSU has the ball
LSU surpassed 100 points and shot 50% or better from the field in both its first and second-round wins. Everyone is rolling offensively for the Tigers, from starters to bench contributors, in transition and half-court sets.
Will that confidence continue against NC State? The Wolfpack held Vermont to 55 points and Michigan State to 49 points in their NCAA Tournament victories. Both teams turned the ball over 13 or more times. NC State couldn't contain LSU for a full game the first time around but it gained momentum the last two games to compete defensively.
Distance shooting to play a role
Both teams shot well from three-point range to begin the NCAA Tournament and a continuation could impact the final result on Friday. While neither team relies on the triple for wins, it certainly helps when playing against transition-minded teams.
LSU made 10 three-pointers in the win over San Diego State, then added a perfect three-of-three performance by Williams in the second round. The sophomore's hot streak is one to keep an eye on as she commands more attention for the defense. Kim Mulkey teams usually rank near the bottom nationally when it comes to made three-pointers, but when Williams is feeling it, LSU is dangerous from deep.
NC State knocked down an NCAA Tournament program-record 15 three-pointers against the Spartans, including six from leading scorer Aziaha James and five from Madison Hayes.
Glass control crucial to victory for both sides
In the regular season match, LSU crushed NC State in rebounding with a 44-24 advantage. Morrow shouldered the load with 15, including 11 on the defensive end. She also limited the Wolfpack's leading rebounder Madison Hayes to four.
Since then, NC State took a by committee approach to winning the rebounding battle. Led by 7.3 from Hayes, the Wolfpack finished second behind Notre Dame in the ACC with 41.5 boards per game. The team particularly excels on the defensive end, limiting opponents' second chance opportunities.
Fatigue may not be a factor
Both teams achieved blowout victories in their first two games. During a long path to the Final Four where injuries have already reared their heads, it's crucial to keep the legs of starters fresh while also building confidence in bench players.
Every available player for LSU saw time in both March Madness games. In the first round against San Diego State, 10 of 12 players played over 11 minutes and only one starter played more than 25 minutes. After a third quarter breakthrough against Florida State in the second round, LSU's starters sat for much of the fourth quarter.
NC State also sent its entire bench into both games but the starters still played the majority of the minutes. In what was a close game through three quarters against Vermont, the starters played 27 or more minutes with three playing 32 or more.
What's at stake?
Both teams are fighting for an Elite Eight berth and shot at either top-seeded-UCLA or fifth-seeded Ole Miss. LSU would look to avenge a loss in the regular season finale to the Rebels, which it played without Johnson as she dealt with a shin injury.
Should LSU get the win on Friday, it would be the program's third-straight trip to the Elite Eight.The Tigers saw their season end it that round last year in a rematch from the 2023 National Championship against Iowa.
NC State made it to the Final Four last year for the first time since 1998. It fell to national champion South Carolina by 19 points. The Wolfpack notched wins over Chattanooga, Tennessee, Stanford and Texas en route to winning the Portland 4 Regional.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: 5 things to know: LSU women's basketball facing NC State in Sweet 16
Continue reading...
