LSU women's basketball is hoping to punch a ticket to the Final Four on Sunday. The Tigers are set to face No. 1 seed UCLA in the Elite Eight.
For LSU head coach Kim Mulkey and the Tigers, this is their third straight Elite Eight appearance. LSU won the national championship in 2023 before falling to Iowa in the Elite Eight in 2024.
This is LSU's second straight year seeing UCLA in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, LSU notched a 78-69 vs. the Bruins in the Sweet 16. Flau'Jae Johnson led the way for the Tigers with 24 points in that one, while Aneesah Morrow added 17 points. Angel Reese had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
This UCLA team is better than the one LSU saw last year. Center Lauren Betts has taken her game to another level, averaging 20.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Bruins' guard Kiki Rice also averages in the double-digits with 13.1 points per night.
Can LSU contain Lauren Betts?
LSU can't stop Lauren Betts, but the Tigers must find ways to keep her in check. UCLA's opponents failed to do that in the round of 23 and Sweet 16. Betts is coming off back-to-back 30-point performances. In the win over Ole Miss, Betts scored 31 and brought down 10 rebounds. Against Richmond, she had a 30/14 game.
Betts will be a lot for LSU forward Aneesah Morrow to handle in the paint, so expect Sa'Myah Smith to get the responsibility. At 6'2', Smith gives LSU the size to compete with Betts.
"She is sol talented. Just watching her from high school until today, It's amazing how good she is," Mulkey said of Smith.
If LSU needs more size, the Tigers could turn to Jersey Wolfenbarger or Aalyah Del Rosario. Both have played limited minutes recently, but Mulkey might work them into the rotation on Sunday.
Limiting Betts isn't impossible. In UCLA's regular-season finale vs. USC, Betts scored 11 points and shot under .500 from the field.
Betts makes a sizeable impact on the defensive end, too. Her 2.9 blocks per game rank No. 5 in the country.
Can Flau'Jae Johnson bounce back?
LSU star Flau'Jae Johnson struggled to get it going in LSU's win over NC State. Johnson was 1-8 from the field with just three points. It was her least productive game of the year.
On Sunday, the Tigers need the Johnson we saw vs. UCLA last year. Johnson's quickness is an advantage for LSU, especially vs. UCLA's size. LSU wants to pick up the pace and play fast on offense. LSU is best at that when Johnson is feeling it. She is one of the best shot-creators in the game and showcases a different level of creativity when finishing at the basket.
That can minimize the block threat of Betts.
Can Mikaylah Williams get hot from three?
LSU ranks No. 230 nationally with 177 made three-pointers. Kim Mulkey teams rarely rely on the three-ball, and this squad is no different. But when LSU guard Mikaylah Williams is feeling it, the Tigers have a threat from behind the arch.
LSU is the underdog and will need to throw a different wrinkle at UCLA to pull off the upset. That edge could be Williams' shooting.
Williams has 10 games this season with three or more made three-pointers. If Williams can pull that off on Sunday, I like LSU's chances.
Does Lauren Betts take away Aneesah Morrow?
LSU forward Aneesah Morrow is one of the top post scorers in the game, averaging 18.8 points per night. She hasn't seen anything like Lauren ...
