LSU secured a hard-fought 70-60 victory over Rice in the first round of the women's NCAA Tournament. Angel Reese's impressive performance with 10 points and 19 rebounds led the Tigers to the win. Aneesah Morrow contributed 15 points, while Flau'Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams each added 14 points for LSU.
Despite committing a season-high 24 turnovers, LSU managed to maintain control throughout the game. Rice, the 14th seed, put up a strong fight, with players like Destiny Jackson and Malia Fisher making significant contributions. Rice capitalized on LSU's turnovers, converting them into 16 points, but ultimately fell short due to LSU's size and skill advantage.
Rice's journey to the NCAA Tournament was marked by a remarkable turnaround, winning four consecutive games in the American Athletic tournament after a challenging regular season. Their resilience and tenacity were evident in their performance against LSU.
LSU's dominant frontcourt duo of Reese and Morrow proved to be a formidable force once again. Reese recorded her 24th double-double of the season and extended her streak to 13 games. The Tigers outrebounded Rice 42-29, showcasing their strength in the paint.
Looking ahead, LSU advances to the second round for the third consecutive season. With one more victory, they will move on to the Albany 2 regional semifinals, setting the stage for a potential rematch with Iowa and NCAA all-time leading scorer Caitlin Clark.
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