LSU women's basketball outlasts Utah in Sweet 16 showdown
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Kim Mulkey drew the inbound play up for Angel Reese, LSU women's basketball best player.
Last-Tear Poa tossed it in to Reese with five seconds left on the shot clock and 15 ticks left in the game as LSU trailed Utah 63-62.
But It was the senior point guard Alexis Morris getting a rebound that careened off the rim to draw a foul. She stepped up, knocked down two free throws to give her team the lead.
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Then it was freshman Sa'Myah Smith, with Reese on the bench, grabbing the rebound of her life after Jenna Johnson missed two free throws on the other end.
LSU (31-2) survived against the Utes, 66-63, to advance to its first Elite Eight since 2008. The Tigers will face No. 5 seed Miami (21-12) here Sunday with a Final Four berth on the line. Game time has not yet been announced.
The Hurricanes defeated No. 4 seed Villanova 70-65 on Friday.
LaDazhia Williams carried LSU women's basketball while Angel Reese sat with fouls
She's a senior, so it should be expected. But Williams has played second fiddle to Reese all season long, staying in the background.
But when Mulkey and her team needed her most, Williams stepped up and kept the Tigers within striking distance, as they trailed 33-29 to Utah at halftime as the team dealt with foul trouble. Williams scored nine of LSU's 29 first-half points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Williams, who averages around nine points per game, finished with 24 points in the biggest game of the season.
LSU, Utah came in top 5 offenses in college basketball. Neither ever got going
Most thought the Sweet 16 showdown between 3-seeded LSU women's basketball and No. 2 seed Utah was going to be a track meet.
What transpired on the court inside Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Friday was closer to a wrestling meet.
Utah boasted the nation's third-best scoring offense at 83.5 points per game. LSU was the fifth-best at 83.2 points.
Neither team ever got going Friday. Both defenses affected the opposing offenses with switches on screens, and both teams committing silly turnovers played a role in the inefficiencies.
LSU shot 41% while the Utes were at 40%. Utah got warm from 3 as the game rolled on, finishing with eight 3-pointers.
Alissa Pili powered Utah women's basketball in Sweet 16
Just like her LSU counterparts, Reese and Williams, Utah star junior forward Alissa Pili found herself in foul trouble in the first half, having to sit the last six minutes.
Despite that, Pili still got her buckets for the Utes, who continually looked her way for generating offense on a night where offense was tough to come by for both teams. Pili put up 14 points.
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: LSU women's basketball survives against Utah in Sweet 16
