MTSU women's basketball vs LSU prediction: Who has edge in 2024 NCAA Tournament second round?
After advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007, Middle Tennessee State women's basketball will get the host and defending national champion next, taking on LSU at 2 p.m. CT Sunday (ABC) in the Albany Regional in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
No. 11 seed MTSU (30-4) is coming off a 71-69 win Friday over sixth-seeded Louisville, a game in which it came from 18 points down to complete the third-biggest comeback in Women's NCAA Tournament history.
No. 3 seed LSU (29-5) held off a late Rice comeback in a 70-60 win Friday.
Here is a scouting report for the second-round game, including a score prediction:
LSU has high-powered offense led by Angel Reese
LSU's only loss since late January came in the SEC tournament championship game against unbeaten and No. 1-ranked South Carolina 79-72.
The Tigers are hitting their postseason stride, similar to what they did last season, when they rolled through the NCAA tournament to win the championship.
A high-powered offense has been the key for coach Kim Mulkey's squad. LSU has scored at least 70 points in all but one game this season. The Tigers have topped 100 points eight times, scored more than 120 points in two of those games, with a season high of 133 in an 89-point December win over McNeese State.
LSU is averaging 86.2 points and allowing just 62.5 this season.
All five starters average in double figures, led by All-American forward Angel Reese (18.7 points, 13.3 rebounds); guard Aneesah Morrow (16.4 points, 9.9 rebounds); guard Mikaylah Williams (14.4 points); guard Flau'jae Johnson (14.2 points); and guard Hailey Van Lith (12.1 points, 3.3 assists).
Reese had 10 points and 19 rebounds in the win over Rice. Morrow had 15 points and seven rebounds.
LSU size could give MTSU women's basketball trouble
LSU will be the biggest team MTSU has faced this season. Reese is 6-foot-3, Morrow 6-1, Williams 6-0 and Johnson 5-10.
The Tigers' top bench player, 5-10 guard Last-Tear Poa, averages 5.1 points and is second on the team with 100 assists.
MTSU will counter with 6-6 center Anastasiia Boldyreva, who had 11 points and 12 rebounds against Louisville. It also has size in top reserve Iullia Grabovskaia, a 6-5 center, but the backcourt size difference is where LSU will try to take advantage.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey famous for more than attire
Mulkey has made a name for herself with the unusual fashion she wears at games.
She also has earned a reputation for her intense and often controversial personality.
Mulkey was recently "ejected" from a Savannah Bananas baseball game in Baton Rouge after throwing out the first pitch, an orchestrated gag that was a hit with the crowd.
MORE: Everything Kim Mulkey said about 'ugly' LSU-South Carolina fight: 'No one wants to see that'
Mulkey, the nation's highest-paid women's basketball coach, is one of the best in NCAA history, having won three national championships with Baylor before going to LSU in 2021 and leading the Tigers to the 2023 title. The former Louisiana Tech All-American point guard has 721 career coaching victories.
MTSU prediction vs LSU: March Madness second round
LSU 80, MTSU 64: Coming off the first-round high, MTSU has a chance to stay in this game with a hot start, but LSU isn't one of the top-ranked teams in the nation for nothing. Playing at home will give the Tigers an added edge. If MTSU starts slow like it did against Louisville, it will be a very long day.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU women's basketball vs. LSU March Madness score prediction
