Instant Analysis: LSU women’s basketball comes up short in rematch against South Carolina in SEC Tournament championship
The LSU women’s basketball team was looking for revenge on Sunday after a loss to South Carolina on its home floor early this season, but the top-seeded, undefeated Gamecocks were too much for the Tigers.
They were overpowered in a 79-72 loss as South Carolina, the regular season league champs, added another tournament title to its repertoire.
LSU led for much of the first quarter, but it found itself trailing by three by its end. South Carolina looked to expand that lead in the second and did by as much as seven, but LSU fought back and cut its deficit to 36-32 heading into halftime.
It was a big half for Aneesah Morrow, who led the way for the Tigers with 11 points.
South Carolina opened the third quarter on a 10-1 run and stretched what was at that point a game-high 13-point lead. But LSU wouldn’t go away, cutting into that lead and chipping it down to six entering the fourth quarter.
LSU trimmed the lead down to one in the final frame, but it couldn’t recapture the lead.
The final quarter also featured an ugly moment. After an intentional foul from Flau'Jae Johnson led to some shoving, Gamecocks star Kamilla Cardoso shoved Johnson to the ground, leading to a bench-clearing brawl and the reported arrest of Johnson’s brother, who entered the court in response.
Every player who left the bench was ejected with 2:08 to play in addition to Cardoso, who will additionally be suspended for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
It wasn’t a banner day offensively for the Tigers, who shot just 37%. Morrow was the standout with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Angel Reese had a double-double as well with 15 points and 13 rebounds while playing through pain.
Hailey Van Lith scored 14, while Johnson finished with 13.
Now, the Tigers will await their NCAA Tournament next Sunday. They’re widely projected to be a No. 2 seed and would host the first two rounds in Baton Rouge if that’s the case.
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