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LSU WBB defeats Georgia 83-69, advances to SEC Tournament semifinals

On3 imageby:Matthew Brune03/03/23

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Alexis Morris LSU Basketball
Courtesy LSU Basketball

*Press release

GREENVILLE, S.C. — The No. 4 (No. 2-seed) LSU Tigers took down No.7-seed Georgia Bulldogs to move on to the conference semifinals. The 83-69 win tied a season high 11 three-pointers and saw a 46-minute delay in the second quarter. 

The 11 three-pointers made is tied for the most by an LSU team in SEC Tournament history.  

5th-year Senior, Alexis Morris led all scorers with 28 points shooting an impressive 5-9 from deep, 10-17 from the field, and a perfect 3-3- from the free throw line. The point guard’s 5 three-pointers tied her career high from the perimeter. Morris added 4 assists and a pair of steals. 

The SEC Freshman of the year, Flau’jae Johnson, stepped up in her first SEC tournament appearance. Johnson totaled 21 on 5-7 from beyond the arch. Her first time to reach 20 points since scoring 26 at Kentucky in January.

Two other Tigers scored in double-figures. Angel Reese dropped 15 and hauled in 6 boards. LaDahzia Williams added 10 points and 7 rebounds. Both were taken out in the fourth quarter with 4 fouls a piece. 

Alissa Lewis came off the bench to lead the Bulldogs with 14 points and 11 assists, her first career double-double. Javyn Nicholson also came off the bench to follow with 11 points and 5 boards. Brittney Smith was the only Georgia starter to reach double figures with 10. 

LSU held Diamond Battles to just 7 points on 2-12 (0-6 3FG) from the field. In their last meeting Battles scored 22 in a close game that went into overtime back in early February. 

The Tigers will advance on to the semifinals and will take on the winner of No. 3-seed Tennessee and No. 14-seed Kentucky who began play after LSU’s game.  On the other side of the bracket No. 1 South Carolina will face No. 4 Ole Miss on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. LSU’s game will follow at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU. 

LSU quotes from the win

Head coach Kim Mulkey

On the overall performance…

“We hit shots on the perimeter. I would have to go back and watch the film to see why we didn’t get more post touches, but your two posts both scored double figures and they battled. Kateri Poole was the hero tonight. Her minutes on the defensive side of the floor were solid. She ended up with five assists and five turnovers, but she dribble penetrated, created open shots and she found open players. Consequently, they got wide open looks. We put in some quick hitters against the zone, but didn’t change it up too much.”

On Flau’jae’s performance…

“I saw a relaxed kid. I saw a confident kid. When her first few shots went in she got back to relaxing a bit. She’s an entertainer and a happy kid, but over the past month, she didn’t play happy. She was mad at herself and she just needed to relax. She’s the freshman of the year in this league. She also rebounded for us. She’s a good player.”

On getting her first SEC Tournament win…

“As a competitor you have to have goals. Our goal was to win one game and we’ve done that. Now we can get a little bit greedy. You have to make sure that LSU fans understand that we have not arrived yet, we’ve just won games. This program will have arrived when we are literally winning championships, but boy are we on the fast track. This was just another first for this staff and the players in that locker room to do this.”

Guard Alexis Morris

On the delay

“I think God was trying to throw off our rhythm. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life.”

On feeling it early with her scoring

This is my last year. This is do or die for me. I just came out and took what the defense gave me and I was fortunate to hit the shots tonight. We’re just taking it game by game and we’re locked in.”

On the chippiness of this game

“Nothing can distract us from what we need to get accomplished. When people are talking to your coach, our leader, we don’t take that very nicely. You have to respect coaches. People crossed the line tonight and we took that very personally and it turned us up another notch.”

Guard Flau’Jae Johnson

On her 5-of-7 3-point shooting performance

“It was just making the extra pass. Passing up a good shot for a great one. We’ve all been working and it showed when the lights came on…It was my best shooting performance, I wouldn’t say it was my best game because I made some mistakes on defense. I was feeling it tonight. They were finding me and I was feeling it. Ate that zone up.”

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