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Aneesah Morrow injury update; LSU star leaves Elite 8 game following nasty collision

by:Alex Byington•03/30/25•

_AlexByington

NCAA Womens Basketball: NCAA Tournament Spokane Regional-UCLA Bruins vs LSU Lady Tigers
Mar 30, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; LSU Lady Tigers forward Aneesah Morrow (24) defends UCLA Bruins forward Angela Dugalic (32) during the first half of a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

Aneesah Morrow had to be taken to the locker room after suffering a broken nose when the LSU senior forward’s face collided with the back of the head of teammate Sa’Myah Smith late in the third quarter of Sunday’s Elite Eight game against top-seeded UCLA.

Morrow would remain on the floor for several minutes as trainers tried to stop the bleeding before being helped to the Tigers’ locker room. Morrow wouldn’t be out long, though, returning to the game to start the fourth quarter.

“This is incredible, Aneesah Morrow has checked back in this game, you see her getting ready to enter for LSU,” ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe said at the start of the fourth quarter. “I can confirm she has broken her nose. She is a tough young woman that is consistently talked about how tough she is and right there, the contact was unfortunate but she’s going to tough it out right now. You can see some swelling already starting but she’s not going to let her team down in this moment.”

The collision happened with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter after UCLA foward Lauren Betts appeared to post up on Smith, pushing her back and into an in-motion Morrow. No foul was called on the play.

Morrow would foul out with 26.6 seconds remaining in Sunday’s 72-65 loss to UCLA, finishing with 15 points on 7-of-19 shooting and seven boards in what will be her final collegiate game.

JuJu Watkins injury: Flau’Jae Johnson sends touching message to USC star

LSU star Flau’jae Johnson had a heartfelt message after USC star JuJu Watkins went down with injury Monday night. The basketball world collectively held its breath when Watkins suffered the injury in the NCAA Tournament against Mississippi State.

Several took to social media to offer their well wishes to the Big Ten Player of the Year, including Johnson. She sent out a message on X to let Watkins know she was hoping for the best when it comes to news on the injury.

“I pray juju okay,” Johnson wrote. “Hate to see it.”

Watkins suffered the injury at the 4:43 mark in the first quarter with USC leading 13-2. She was driving to the basket on a fast break when she fell to the floor and immediately grabbed at her right knee.

She could be seen grimacing in pain as she eventually had to be carried off the court and immediately back to the locker room.

— On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.