In a remarkable second-half turnaround, the LSU women’s basketball team surged to claim a come-from-behind victory of 83-56 against Middle Tennessee in the NCAA tournament Round of 32 on Sunday.

Initially trailing 41-32 at the beginning of the second half, the No. 3-seeded Tigers faced a significant deficit. However, by stringing together several defensive stops, hitting crucial 3-pointers, and forcing key fouls that resulted in Blue Raiders being sidelined, LSU orchestrated an impressive 27-8 run. This surge propelled them back into contention and secured their spot in the Sweet 16.

Throughout the final 18 minutes of play, LSU dominated, outscoring Middle Tennessee by a staggering 51-15 margin.

Reflecting on the team’s performance, coach Kim Mulkey credited their energy, aggressiveness, and effort in the second half for wearing down their opponents. She noted that despite Middle Tennessee’s occasional good looks, they struggled to convert, with LSU’s heightened effort making a significant impact in the third and fourth quarters.

Mikaylah Williams, Flau’jae Johnson, and Angel Reese were instrumental in the third-quarter comeback. LSU scored 27 points in the frame, 24 of which came from the trio.

In the third quarter, despite a slow start shooting-wise, Reese contributed with a pair of layups and four successful free throws, improving her scoring efficiency. Johnson made significant contributions, adding nine points to LSU’s tally through aggressive defense, including two steals, a blocked shot, and six free throws earned. Meanwhile, Williams showcased her smooth outside shooting, scoring seven points in the period.

 

 

Middle Tennessee struggled offensively in the second half, shooting only 28% from the field and a mere 17% from beyond the arc. In contrast, LSU found success, converting 48% of their total shot attempts in the second and third quarters. Their aggressive play led to an impressive 30 trips to the free-throw line.

Coach Mulkey emphasized the importance of transition baskets during halftime, urging her players to push the tempo after grabbing rebounds. This strategy aimed to capitalize on opportunities and increase scoring efficiency.

The aggressive approach marked a notable shift from LSU’s initial performance in the game. At the outset, the Tigers encountered difficulties in scoring near the basket.

In a critical moment with less than 90 seconds remaining in the first half, Williams facilitated a fast-break opportunity for Reese, who found herself with an open layup chance. Unfortunately, Reese’s attempt rimmed out, leading to a Middle Tennessee fast-break opportunity. Ta’Mia Scott capitalized on this with a 3-pointer from the left wing, extending the Blue Raiders’ lead to 36-30.

Had Reese converted her layup, LSU would have trailed by only one point at 33-32. However, Scott’s successful 3-pointer highlighted Middle Tennessee’s efficient second quarter.

Both teams managed to convert 13 of their 33 field goal attempts in the first half. Nevertheless, Middle Tennessee gained advantages both from beyond the 3-point arc, outscoring LSU by 12 points, and in rebounding, where they outperformed the Tigers by seven boards.

In the first half, LSU managed to earn seven free throws and score 16 points in the paint. However, they often settled for 3-pointers and mid-range jumpers, largely due to Middle Tennessee’s defensive strategy of crowding the lane and double-teaming Reese in the post.

During the second quarter, Mulkey passionately reminded LSU that they were in the bonus on consecutive possessions. Associate coach Bob Starkey also emphasized attacking the lane by standing up and pointing to the rim, urging the Tigers to be more aggressive.

Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee capitalized on a 14-2 run over a five-minute stretch in the second quarter, during which LSU struggled to convert, missing seven of its eight shot attempts. This allowed the Blue Raiders to seize the lead and assert control.

However, Middle Tennessee’s success was short-lived in the second half, as LSU tightened up its defense and kickstarted its transition offense to stage a remarkable comeback.

“I felt that we really stepped up the pace, pushing the ball up the court,” Mulkey remarked. “We had everyone running in transition during the second half.”

Johnson led the game with 21 points, while Reese contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds in what might have been her final game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Morrow recorded a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Williams added 16 points on 6 of 11 shooting.

Middle Tennessee’s top scorer was point guard Savannah Wheeler, standing at 5 feet 6 inches. She scored 21 points on 8 of 24 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out five assists.

Overall, LSU converted 26 of 37 free-throw attempts, whereas Middle Tennessee managed only 6 of 9. Three Blue Raiders fouled out of the game, with seven committing at least three fouls.

This Sweet 16 appearance marks LSU’s 16th in program history. Mulkey, as a head coach, has now guided 17 teams to this stage of the NCAA tournament.

LSU will next travel to Albany, New York, to play the victor of the Round of 32 match between No. 2 UCLA and No. 7 Creighton on Monday at 7:30 p.m.