Blood & boards: Angel Reese propels LSU women's basketball past Michigan to Sweet 16

BATON ROUGE – Perhaps the bright lights highlight your identity in big moments.

From the jump this season with sophomore Angel Reese on board, Kim Mulkey has said that rebounding was going to be a part of LSU women's basketball's identity this season.

In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the No. 3 seed Tigers (30-2) completely owned No. 6 Michigan on the glass, at one point at a 12-1 clip on the offensive end.

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LSU used the extra chances to roll the Wolverines, 66-42, inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Sunday night to advance to the Sweet Sixteen at the Greenville 2 Regional next weekend.

Angel Reese powers LSU women's basketball's rebounding dominance vs. Michigan

LSU's star outrebounded Michigan's entire team by halftime and held a 22 to 21 advantage with 8:59 left in the game.

Reese had already recorded her 30th double-double of the season with more than 3 minutes left in the opening half and finished with another 20-20 performance at 25 points and 24 boards. It was one of the program's greatest all-around March Madness performances with six blocks, four assists and three steals.

Along with fellow forward LaDazhia Williams' 10, LSU almost had twice as many rebounds than Michigan, which was led by its three guards Maddie Nolan, Laila Phelia and Leigha Brown.

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Usual reserve Kateri Poole got the nod from Mulkey in the first five and had the dubious task of guarding Michigan's top scorer Leigha Brown.

Not only was Poole up to the task, she made Brown early invisible to her teammates and the raucous crowd inside the PMAC. Brown was limited to just four rebounds and three points on 1-for-7 shooting.

And senior wing Jasmine Carson coming off the bench helped her as well. She hit three of her first six 3s for nine points, which lit LSU's spark in the first half.

LSU women's basketball makes Sweet 16 in March Madness where Utah awaits

It's been nine years since LSU's been this far. But it's taken Mulkey just two years to get the Tigers back to the Sweet 16.

Returning to Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, where the SEC Tournament was held just three weeks ago, LSU will face No. 2 seed Utah, who held on against Princeton, 63-56, in the second round, next Friday.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Angel Reese powers LSU women's basketball to past Michigan to Sweet 16