DALLAS, Texas — With a fourth quarter for the ages, the LSU Tigers defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 79-72 in Friday’s Final Four inside the American Airlines Center. With the win, LSU advances to its first NCAA Women’s National Championship Game.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU took an early lead following a pair of second-chance jumpers by Ladazhia Williams and Angel Reese. After Virginia Tech tied up, LSU reclaimed the four-point lead with Alexis Morris scoring back-to-back buckets.
At the first media timeout, LSU led 10-6 while Va. Tech began the game shooting 1-of-9 from the field.
The Hokies were able to close the gap and at the end of the first quarter, the Tigers held a 16-13 lead.
After a jumper by Morris, LSU pushed its lead up to nine points with 4:48 left in the second quarter. Virginia Tech responded by switching to a zone defense and that forced LSU to take bad shot attempts.
While the Hokies’ defense was working to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard, its’ offense was heating up. Virginia Tech closed out the second quarter on a 11-0 run and held a 34-32 advantage.
Virginia Tech opened up the third with a three-pointer by Cayla King and then added a Elizabeth Kitley jumper. A few minutes later, the Hokies pushed their lead to 13 with a King three-pointer.
With 5:13 left in the third, Va. Tech led 51-39.
LSU trimmed the deficit down to five points but Kateri Poole was called for a technical foul. Georgia Amoore made the two free throws to make it a seven-point lead again.
At the end of the third, Va. Tech led 59-50.
LSU started catching fire to start the fourth with a 7-0 run as Morris drained a three-pointer and then made a layup during the run. The Tigers kept up the pace and would begin the fourth outscoring the Hokies 16-3.
With 4:46 left in the fourth, LSU held a 66-62 lead.
Reese would then add a second-chance jumper and make two free throws to make it a 70-62 advantage for LSU.
Virginia Tech cut the lead down to six points after King drained a three-pointer with 1:17 left in regulation. LSU responded as Morris drove the lane and made the layup to push it back up to eight points.
After a pair of Kitley free throws, LSU pushed it back up to eight points as Morris hit both free throws.
BIG NUMBER: 54
LSU won Friday’s game by winning the battle in the paint as the Tigers scored 54 points in the paint. Va. Tech only scored 14 points in the paint.
BIG NUMBER II: 1
With Friday’s win over Virginia Tech, the LSU women’s basketball program is now 1-for-6 all time in Final Fours.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: ALEXIS MORRIS & ANGEL REESE
Morris led the Tigers with 27 points on 11-of-27 shooting while Reese recorded a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds.
UP NEXT: LSU (33-2) will face the winner of South Carolina-Iowa in Sunday’s national championship game. Tip is set for 2:30 p.m.
