ALBANY, N.Y. — Angel Reese sodded down the courtroom after being known as for her fourth foul, understanding she was being subbed out.
If No. 3 LSU ladies’s basketball and Kim Mulkey had been going to beat No. 2 UCLA within the Candy 16 conflict on this Saturday afternoon contained in the MVP Area in Albany, New York, it was going to must determine it out with the face of its group on the bench.
The Bruins led by a degree at that second with 8:25 remaining within the recreation. Behind some opportunistic protection, LSU retook the lead seconds later off freshman Mikaylah Williams’ putback. She scored six factors in fast succession.
LSU figured it out, placing collectively a 6-0 run late within the recreation and sophomore sensation Flau’jae Johnson making the largest bucket of the season, taking what was a blocked shot off of Reese to a driving layup that put her group forward 72-68 with 39 seconds to go.
The Tigers survived 78-69 to advance to its second straight Elite 8 the place it’s going to play the winner of No. 1 Iowa and No. 5 Colorado, who play later Saturday.
Flau’jae Johnson spin transfer units early desk for stellar efficiency for LSU ladies’s basketball vs UCLA in Candy 16
The lead modified 5 occasions within the first 11 minutes. However LSU ladies’s basketball sophomore sensation Flau’jae Johnson had already discovered her groove.
As No. 3 LSU tried to piece collectively a method to stretch its lead in its Candy 16 showdown in opposition to No. 2 UCLA, managing only a three-point lead by that time, Johnson struck the match that propelled the Tigers to a extra snug first-half benefit.
Johnson caught a go on the proper wing from a working level guard Hailey Van Lith. After seeing the ball and Kiki Rice closing out on her, Johnson attacked the rim with no regard for human life, hitting a vicious spin transfer within the paint to get herself sufficient room to knock down a leaning floater within the paint on the 6:53 mark within the second quarter.
Johnson’s 13 first-half factors despatched the Tigers jubilant into the locker room, up 34-27 over UCLA.
She knocked down her first two shot makes an attempt, each 3s, the second of which gave LSU its first lead. Johnson additionally attacked the glass early as nicely, dealing with rebounds when the ball bounced lengthy off the basket.
For the sport, Johnson had 24 factors with 12 rebounds.
UCLA settled for 3-pointers. LSU Tigers benefitted early however Bruins rallied with it
In its final three video games, UCLA has averaged placing up 27 3-pointers, however within the two video games the place it shot 30 or extra, it went 1-1, shedding to USC within the Pac-12 Event and shot 31 in opposition to an outmanned No. 15 Cal-Baptist within the first spherical of the NCAA Event.
The Bruins put up 17 3s within the first half, making solely two because the Tigers constructed their halftime benefit.
Thanks to protect Londynn Jones, UCLA received scorching behind the arc within the third quarter. Jones hit a 3-pointer proper earlier than halftime and got here out the locker room nonetheless heated up, draining three extra 3s, the third of which erased what was a 10-point deficit for the Bruins to offer her them a 45-44 lead late within the third.
UCLA shot 7-of-29 from the perimeter for the sport, making 5 within the second half.
UCLA retains Angel Reese, LSU off offensive boards
One of many principal staples of a Kim Mulkey coached group is rebounding the ball. And with Reese, a trademark has been accumulating loads of offensive rebounds.
However UCLA was capable of counter with star 6-foot-7 sophomore heart Lauren Betts.
The Bruins managed the glass all afternoon, outrebounding LSU 44 to 38 total. However the place the Tigers had been harm essentially the most was on the offensive glass. UCLA held the sting there, 16 to 6.
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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Each day Advertiser as a part of the USA TODAY Community. Comply with his Tigers protection on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Acquired questions concerning LSU athletics? Ship them to Cory Diaz atbdiaz@gannett.com.