Jasmine Carson hits ridiculous shot to end half, discusses incredibly hot start in the title game

LSU was unconscious during the first half of the national championship against Iowa. The Tigers combined to shoot 75% from three with four players contributing with makes from distance.

None were bigger, though, than this wild bank shot from grad student Jasmine Carson to send LSU into halftime up by 17.

JASMINE CARSON pic.twitter.com/W205zijSIY

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Carson ended the half with a perfect five out of five mark from distance for 21 points. She picked the right time to break out of a cold streak and go seven of seven from the field overall as she hadn’t scored in double digits in a month and a half and had scored just 11 points total over the rest of this NCAA Tournament.

Jasmine Carson hadn't scored in 3 straight games and had just 11 points in 5 NCAA Tournament games entering the National Championship game

She has 21 points at the half pic.twitter.com/d3ipagQ5ck

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However, nothing about the outburst has surprised Carson in the slightest. She knew she’d be able to step up if she was asked because of the work she’s put in and the preparation she and her teammates have put in overall for this moment.

“I mean it’s big for my team,” Carson said to Holly Rowe heading into halftime. “Most of the starters have got foul trouble. I’ve been working for this my whole life and it just feels great to put it on this stage.

“It’s preparation. Before the game shooting, scout, film. It’s just all preparation,” added Carson. “I have a good coaching staff, great teammates. I was just out there flourishing and it’s showing.”

Mulkey challenges referees, team following early foul trouble on Angel Reese

LSU head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey is in the midst of her fourth National Championship appearance as a head coach and her first with the Tigers. Her squad ended the first quarter with a 27-22 lead over Iowa, at after the first quarter, Mulkey spoke with ESPN’s Holly Rowe and gave an assessment of her team’s start.

“They did fine, they did fine,” Mulkey said. “I just didn’t like the way we started with three turnovers Holly in the first couple minutes of play, just take a deep breath. Got a freshman out there making those turnovers, but I didn’t take her out, you let her work her way through it and she hit a big three.”

The Tigers were also faced with some first-quarter foul trouble with starters Angel Reese and Ladazhi Williams ending the quarter with two fouls apiece. Mulkey also spoke on how she plans on managing their foul trouble moving forward.

“I got two over there with fouls in the first quarter, we’re gon’ play aggressive. Now they’re either gonna call it aggressive on both ends or let them play, we can do either. But I thought Jasmine Carson came in and hit a big three, I think we’re battling hard Holly,” Mulkey said.