LSU’s Reese dominates Rainbow Wahine in first round

BATON ROUGE – Despite facing double teams throughout the contest, LSU all-American Angel Reese led the Tigers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a record-setting performance, 73-50, over No. 14-seeded Hawai’i on Saturday in Maravich. center.

Reese completed his 29th double-double of the 2022-23 season with 34 points and 15 rebounds. He made 13 of 20 field goals and 8 of 12 free throws in 36 minutes.

The 34-point effort tied LSU’s NCAA Tournament single-game record, set by Marie Ferdinand at Purdue in 2001.

Hawai’i, which was held to 30.8 percent shooting, finished the season with a record of 18-15.

The Rainbow Wahine could contain the rest of the Tigers, holding Reese to 14-of-42 shooting. Flau’jae Johnson (10 points) Alexis Morris (6) finished below her season average, while LaDazhia Williams had nine points on 4-of-7 shooting.

Reese was dominant on both ends of the court, adding three steals and three blocked shots. He also moved into third on LSU’s single-season rebounding list (479) and tied for eighth on LSU’s single-season scoring list (735).

LSU finished 27-of-62 shooting (43.5 percent) including 1-of-14 from three-point range. The Tigers made 18-of-25 free throws, out-rebounded Hawai’i (40-33) and scored 20 points off 21 turnovers.

After briefly falling behind in the opening minutes, LSU turned up the defensive pressure resulting in a 12-0 run and a 16-5 lead with 43 seconds left in the first quarter. A pair of free throws by Johnson to close the quarter gave the Tigers an 18-7 advantage, as LSU scored 10 points off eight first-quarter turnovers by the Rainbow Wahine.

Reese scored his 10th point with a layup at the 9:14 mark of the second quarter, giving LSU a 20-9 advantage. Hawai’i’s Meilani McBee made her 50th three-pointer of the season to bring the visitors within seven, 29-22, with 3:06 left in the half. LSU then scored the final six points of the period and took its largest lead in the opening 20 minutes, 35-22.

Along with 13 points off turnovers, the Tigers hit 1-of-9 three-pointers for 24 points before halftime. Hawai’i only managed to shoot 26.9 percent (7 of 26), as leading scorer Lily Wahinekapu led the way with four field goals and nine points.

A pair of Hawai’i three-pointers early in the third quarter kept the game tight. Meanwhile, Reese scored the Tigers’ first nine points of the half and gave LSU a 44-30 lead with 4:01 remaining. Although both teams struggled from the field in the quarter, LSU extended its lead to 15, 48-33.

LSU starting guard and leading scorer Alexis Morris was 0-for-6 and scoreless over 31 minutes before making three straight fourth-quarter field goals to spark the Tigers’ 10-0 run and 58-35. advantage with 7:26 to play. Hawai’i got no closer than 18 in the final minute.

Third-seeded LSU (29-2) will play host to No.

Game times and television networks for the second round games are expected to be announced early Saturday. A limited number of tickets are available at www.LSUtix.net.