LSU Dominates San Diego State in NCAA Women’s Tournament Opener

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU women’s basketball team powered through San Diego State on Saturday night, winning 83-40 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

The victory showcased the depth and strength of the third-seeded Tigers, who improved to 29-5 on the season. Key player Aneesah Morrow, despite an injury scare earlier this month, led the team with 22 points and 12 rebounds, marking her 28th double-double of the season. “It felt great to be back on the court and contribute to the team,” Morrow said after the game.

Flau’Jae Johnson, returning from a right shin injury, also made a significant impact, scoring 12 points while exhibiting the athleticism that has made her one of college basketball’s rising stars. Johnson wore a compression sleeve but started strong, including a steal and a layup that helped initiate LSU’s commanding 11-0 run.

LSU quickly established dominance, ending the first half with a 47-15 lead. The Tigers shot 59% from the field, including 60% from three-point range, leaving San Diego State unable to catch up. The Aztecs, who recently won the Mountain West Conference, struggled throughout the game and did not have any player score in double digits.

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey noted the importance of a strong start in tournament play, saying, “The three seed has been good to us,” in reference to their previous success as a third seed in 2023 when they went on to win the national championship.

San Diego State’s best efforts were led by Adryana Quezado, who finished with eight points, but as a team, they struggled offensively, shooting just 23% from the field.

Looking ahead, LSU is set to face No. 6 seed Florida State in the second round on Monday night. The Seminoles are coming off a tournament win of their own and will be a formidable challenge for the Tigers.

This tournament opening has already established several records, including the most teams surpassing 100 points in a single round, emphasizing the explosive nature of this year’s NCAA Women’s Tournament.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.