For the second straight year, the LSU women’s basketball team fell in the Elite 8 round by seven points to a No. 1 seed.
LSU came up short, losing 72-65 to No. 1 seed UCLA on Sunday in the Elite 8 game held in Spokane, Washington. Kim Mulkey’s team fell 94-87 to No. 1 seed Iowa in the Albany Regional 2 Final last year.
UCLA, meanwhile advances to the NCAA Women’s Final Four for the first time.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
UCLA began the game strong, as Lauren Betts made a layup, which sparked a 7-2 run for the Bruins. While UCLA was getting things going offensively, LSU’s offense was struggling. The Tigers didn’t score their second field goal until Flau’Jae Johnson made a layup with 4:55 left.
LSU answered with a -2 run to take an 11-9 lead with 1:24 remaining in the first quarter. Also during that stretch, UCLA’s Betts picked up her second personal foul. At the end of the first quarter, LSU led UCLA 13-9
The Bruins started the second quarter on an 8-2 run capped with a three-pointer by Timea Gardiner. LSU answered with a jumper by Aneesah Morrow, but UCLA responded with a three-pointer by Gabriela Jacquez and another three-pointer by Gardiner. With 6:15 left to play, the Bruins led the Tigers 23-17.
With Betts on the bench, UCLA kept its foot on the gas and outscored LSU 22-12 in the second quarter. Mikaylah Williams and Johnson combined to go 2-for-11 in the first half as the Tigers committed nine turnovers in the first two quarters.
At the break, the Bruins led the Tigers 31-25.
LSU outscored UCLA 16-15 in the third quarter but still entered the final quarter trailing by five points.
UCLA’s Gardiner hit a three to start the fourth, but LSU answered with a Johnson layup. The Bruins answered with a Betts layup. The Bruins kept the Tigers at arm’s length until LSU went on an 8-0 run, highlighted by six straight points by Johnson.
With 3:24 left in the fourth, UCLA led LSU 56-53.
UCLA responded with a free throw and then a three by Jacquez to make it a 63-52 game. The Tigers kept fighting but were never able to close the gap.
BIG NUMBER: 16-1
LSU entered Sunday’s Elite 8 matchup having won all 16 games this season in which Flau’Jae Johnson scored 20 or more points. That streak came to an end as the Tigers suffered their first loss of the season with Johnson scoring at least 20 points.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: FLAU’JAE JOHNSON
After a disappointing first half, Johnson tried to will the Tigers to a victory in the second half. Johnson scored 24 of her team-high 28 points in the second half on 10-of-17 shooting and went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.