LSU women's basketball vs. Virginia Tech: Score prediction, scouting report
It's the big one.
Final Four rematch. Two teams with national championship aspirations. All-American-caliber players on both sides.
No. 7 LSU women's basketball's clash with No. 9 Virginia Tech is all of those things, plus the fact that it's a top-10 matchup as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.
But for LSU (6-1) and the Hokies (5-1), this highly-anticipated showdown could set the table for the teams' performances in high-profile games for the rest of the regular season.
Angel Reese returns for LSU women's basketball. Sets up dynamic matchup with Elizabeth Kitley
Truthfully, with or without Angel Reese, LSU limiting Elizabeth Kitley was going to be a problem.
A fully-stocked LSU squad couldn't slow down Kitley in the Final Four last season as she put up 18 points and 12 rebounds and had three assists.
Kitley is off to a stellar start to the 2023-24 season, averaging 24 points per game and 11.5 rebounds. Kitley had 16 and 16 in the Hokies' other marquee nonconference game thus far against Iowa.
The interior is where LSU is dealing with depth concerns. Reese hasn't been with the team in two weeks but she makes her triumphant return against the Hokies. Sophomore forward Sa'Myah Smith injured her knee down in the Cayman Islands.
Aneesah Morrow, who's been playing both the post and wing so far, and freshman Aalyah Del Rosario as players who have played significant minutes down low but the task to slow Kitley down should fall into Reese's hands.
How Kim Mulkey utilizes Aneesah Morrow, will it pay off for Tigers vs. Virginia Tech?
With the inside depth taking a hit of late, Morrow had to sink back down to the post. And she had her best game in an LSU uniform to date with 37 points and 16 rebounds. But it was against Virginia.
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Morrow, at 6-foot, likely won't have to contend with Kitley much on the defensive end but where she finds space on the offensive end will matter. Her natural scoring area is inside the arc but it's likely she may have to rely on more of her outside game to either take defenders off the dribble or spot up and shoot against a big Hokie lineup.
Colorado was the next biggest lineup LSU has seen to date and the Buffs' inside game stifled the Tigers. But Morrow is far more comfortable now and is playing with more confidence of late. And she's played both levels for Mulkey this season.
Mulkey is going to need a better game of out Morrow than what she had against Colorado in the opener.
Hailey Van Lith vs. Georgia Amoore
This will the most fun matchup to watch.
Virginia Tech senior guard Georgia Amoore can shoot the lights out of the gym, she's scoring 17 points per game on a 43% shooting clip. She also takes care of the basketball, averaging three turnovers per game.
LSU senior guard Hailey Van Lith has improved on the defensive end since a tough showing against Colorado but that was also against lesser competition. She hasn't matched up with a guard of Amoore's stature since Jaylyn Sherrod in Vegas.
Van Lith will need to be as effective on offense as she is on the defensive end as well. She's played in numerous big games in her career and been tasked with guarding good guards, so she'll be used to the elements.
Whichever guard gets the best of the other here will be a vital role in the result of this top-10 showdown.
Score prediction
LSU will struggle to slow down Virginia Tech's offense as it's had defensive issues plenty this young season. Kitley and Amoore will power the Hokies and Tiger freshman MiKaylah Williams will likely be her team's leading scorer, which isn't ideal. Virginia Tech 88, LSU 79
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 vs. VA Tech: Score prediction, scouting report
