LSU hosted Tennessee inside the PMAC tonight for a top women’s college basketball matchup. Angel Reese continued her double-double streak while Alexis Morris led all scorers with 31 en route to a 76-68 victory for Kim Mulkey’s squad over Tennessee.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The first five minutes of this contest were neck and neck, with LSU only leading 10-8 at the first media timeout. Angel Reese, Flaujae Johnson, and Ladazia Williams got in on the early scoring, but the Lady Vols did everything to hang with LSU early.
The first quarter ended with both teams combining for nine more points in the final four minutes. The Tigers led 15-12 at the break with Reese, Williams, and Alexis Morris with four points each for LSU. The Tigers shot 44% in the first quarter with Tennessee shooting just 31%.
The second quarter was much like the first quarter, as the Tigers and Volunteers shared blow after blow but kept it incredibly close. Alexis Morris had a big quarter for Kim Mulkey, scoring nine points in the quarter. Angel Reese was bothered by Tennessee for the whole first half, only scoring four points and grabbing four rebounds. LSU led 34-29 at the halftime break.
The Lady Tigers came to life in the second half, outscoring Tennessee 14-5 to start the third quarter to take a 48-34 lead at the 4:50 mark. Alexis Morris continued to lead the way for LSU with 18 points.
Tennessee closed the quarter on a 6-0 run including two technical free throws after a technical was called on Last-Tear Poa to close the cap to 50-47 with 10 minutes left in the contest. Angel Reese did get her 21st straight double-double so far in 2022, with 10 points and 13 rebounds through three quarters.
Alexis Morris and Angel Reese continued to lead the Tigers to begin the fourth quarter, holding a 64-52 lead with five minutes to go. Morris was up to 27 points while Reese had an immense sequence of steal, basket, and the foul, followed by the made free throw.
Tennessee put up 16 points in the final stretch, but it still wasn’t enough as LSU held on for a 76-68 victory over the Lady Vols tonight inside the PMAC.
BIG NUMBER: 15,157
The PMAC was filled to the brim tonight with the largest crowd in its new configuration to watch a top SEC matchup between LSU and Tennessee.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Alexis Morris
Morris was phenomenal for the Tigers tonight, scoring 31 points on 11-23 shooting with six rebounds and two assists to lead LSU over Tennessee.
UP NEXT: LSU will face off against Georgia Thursday night inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Tip-off for that contest is set for 7:00 p.m. and you can hear it on The Game.