LSU to play for National Championship after win over Virginia Tech
DALLAS — Kim Mulkey and the LSU Women’s Basketball Team (33-2) advanced to Sunday’s National Championship game thanks to a come-from-behind, 79-72 victory over the No. 1 seed Virginia Tech Hokies (31-5) Friday night in the national semi-final.
Alexis Morris all scorers on the night with 27 points. Angle Reese and LaDazhia Williams added 24 and 16 respectively, with Reese grabbing 12 rebounds for her 33rd double-double of the year.
Virginia Tech won the middle quarters, but the Tigers dominated when it mattered more: at the start and especially at the end.
LSU won the first quarter by dominating the paint and dictating the pace. The Hokies took a lot of quick threes that were not falling while LSU pounded the rock inside and kept it in the hands of their best players Reese and Morris who combined for 12 of the Tigers’ 16 points in the first frame.
The second quarter was a tale of two runs. A 10-2 spurt from the purple and gold stretched their lead to nine points. But Virginia Tech took the punch well and countered with strength.
The Hokies held the Tigers scoreless for the last 4:48 of the second quarter while piling in 11 points of their own. LaDazhia Williams picked up her second foul just before the run, allowing Elizabeth Kitley and the Hokies to take advantage.
For the half, LSU shot 45% and dominated the pain scoring 24 points to Va. Tech’s 10. However, The Hokies hit four triples and won the board thanks to 11 offensive rebounds.
The 11-0 run for Virginia Tech did not end at halftime though. The run continued to 16-0, 20-2 and even hit 28-7 — if you would consider that a run — leaving the score at 51-39 Hokies.
At one point, it was as if the Tigers were playing 5-on-3 with Reese, Morris, and Williams accounting for all but two of LSU’s points.
Angel Reese would lead the Tigers in cutting the deficit to 55-50 with 2:37 left in the third quarter.
The momentum would carry over into the fourth quarter with Morris knocking down a three to spark a 7-0 run. 59-57 Hokies with eight minutes left to decide who gets to play for a national championship on Sunday.
Then LSU Threw its knockout blow in the form of a 9-0 run to take a 66-62 lead heading into the final media timeout. All five starters scored in the run and Va. Tech could not buy a bucket at the other end.
From there, the Hokies collapsed falling behind by as much as 10. Reese and Williams cleaned up on the boards and left no doubt who deserved to be playing again on Sunday.
Now the Tigers await the winner of No. 1 overall seed South Carolina and the No. 2 seed Iowa Hawkeyes for what will be LSU’s first-ever national championship appearance in women’s basketball.
It has been just over 700 days since Kim Mulkey was hired, and the turnaround she has orchestrated is now just 40 minutes away from reaching the end goal.
The championship game will tip off at 2:30 PM CT on ABC on Sunday.
LSU Tigers 2023 Regional Champions Locker Room Shirt
from: Alumni Hall
LSU Tigers 2023 Regional Champions Locker Room Hat
from: Alumni Hall