LSU trudges past Miami, punches ticket to womens Final Four

Publish date: 2024-06-16

No. 3 LSU ended No. 9 Miami’s run in the women’s 2023 NCAA Tournament with a 54-42 victory over the Hurricanes in the Elite Eight. Here’s what you should know:

The victory propelled the Tigers to their sixth Final Four appearance and first since 2008 when they lost to eventual-champion Tennessee, 47-46.
Alexis Morris led LSU with 21 points while Angel Reese recorded her 32nd double-double with 13 points and 18 rebounds.
Miami’s Lashae Dwyer was helped off the court with an apparent injury with just over four minutes left in the game.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

LSU powers through

LSU was able to get the job done and advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2008 but, oof, this game was an absolute clunker. The Tigers shot 30 percent from the field, while Miami shot 32 percent. Both teams went a combined 1-for-27 from 3. LSU coach Kim Mulkey and her team will be thrilled about the Final Four, but she’ll likely be the first to admit this game was hideous. — Raynor

Trouble beyond the arc

Neither one of these teams is prolific at 3-point shooting (both only make about five 3s a game), but the combined 1-of-27 shooting from beyond the arc was shocking. That becomes the lowest combined 3-point shooting percentage in any NCAA Tournament game since at least 2000. — Jennings

Backstory

With her 32nd double-double, Reese set the SEC single-season record. Though she hit only three of 15 field goals, she made seven free throws.

Only one 3-pointer was made — by LSU’s Kateri Poole – the entire game as the Tigers missed their other 11 attempts and Miami whiffed on all 15 long-range launches.

Highlight of the game

Beast Mode Activated

📺 @espn pic.twitter.com/xXDemOHsva

— LSU Women's Basketball (@LSUwbkb) March 27, 2023

Required reading

(Photo: Jim Dedmon / USA Today)