LSU and Florida Gear Up for SEC Tournament Quarterfinal Showdown

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The No. 3 seed LSU Tigers are set to face off against the No. 11 seed Florida Gators in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on the SEC Network, featuring commentators Carolyn Peck and Courtney Lyle. Fans can also tune in to the LSU Sports Radio Network with Patrick Wright and Shaeeta Williams.

This matchup comes after Florida’s narrow 63-61 victory over No. 6 Alabama on Thursday night, a win that marked a significant upset. The Gators led throughout most of the game but allowed Alabama to close the gap in the final minutes. Despite missing several free throws that could have secured a more comfortable lead, Florida held on for the victory.

LSU, which enters the tournament as the only team with multiple players on the First Team All-SEC, recorded a program-best 27 regular-season wins and advanced directly to the quarterfinals with a double-bye—a feat they’ve achieved for the fourth consecutive year. The Tigers reached the semifinals in both of the previous two seasons and are looking to capitalize on their strong performance.

However, the Tigers will be without standout guard Flau’Jae Johnson due to a lower-body injury she has been nursing. Johnson’s absence leaves a notable gap in LSU’s lineup, but Aneesah Morrow is poised to step up. Morrow has had an impressive season, averaging 18.2 points and 14.0 rebounds per game, leading the nation with 26 double-doubles this season.

In addition, Mikaylah Williams has emerged as a key player, scoring over 20 points in her last three games. With 100 assists this season, Williams has showcased her versatility by playing multiple positions, including point guard and power forward.

The last encounter between LSU and Florida took place earlier this season, with the Tigers claiming an 80-63 victory in Gainesville. In that matchup, LSU outscored Florida 35-9 in points off turnovers, thanks to strong performances from Johnson, Morrow, and Williams, who each scored at least 19 points.

Florida, on the other hand, enters this contest with a record of 16-16 and hopes that their recent defensive intensity will help them against LSU’s potent offense. Freshman guard Liv McGill was instrumental in their recent win, scoring a career-high 29 points against Alabama and displaying the scoring capability that Florida will rely on moving forward.

The Gators must also look to control the boards and minimize turnovers. In their earlier game against LSU, Florida committed 24 turnovers, which led to significant scoring opportunities for the Tigers. With both teams having faced recent challenges, this game promises to be a hard-fought battle.

As the two teams prepare for their SEC quarterfinal clash, the outcome will not only determine advancement in the tournament but could serve as a turning point for both programs leading into the NCAA tournament.