LOS ANGELES — The second-seeded UCLA women’s basketball team will face a team with a powerful offense and a big personality Saturday in its NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game against defending national champion LSU in Albany, New York.
Six-foot-three forward Angel Reese and 6-foot-1 guard Aneesh Morrow each have more than 20 double-doubles this season for third-seeded LSU (27-6). Reese has recorded a double-double in 14 consecutive games and has recorded eight in her fourth year in the NCAA Tournament.
She’s also gone viral on social media for her competitiveness and in-game actions. For example, she waved goodbye to Middle Tennessee State player Anastasiia Boldyreva, who was fouled out by Reese on Sunday in their second-round game.
“There’s a lot going on down there in Baton Rouge,” UCLA guard Kiki Rice said. “It’s good for women’s basketball, the attention that they’re bringing. Kim Mulkey’s built a great program.
“But I also think we can’t get distracted by that and can’t get distracted by everything else they bring to the game. It’s basketball at the end of the day.”
The Tigers exuded confidence even before winning the national title last year in Mulkey’s second season. The scout team players for UCLA (27-6) were instructed to talk trash in the practices leading up to the first game between the teams since 2011.
“Each team has a personality and we want to play within our personality,” UCLA coach Cori Close told reporters Wednesday. “Our job is to get ourselves ready to play our best and that may look different from LSU, but we’re not going to let anything they do take us out of the mental focus of us playing at our best the way we like to do it.”
Here’s a scouting overview of the Tigers before Saturday’s matchup with UCLA:
Probable starting lineup
G: SO Flau’jae Johnson, 5-foot-10, 14.4 ppg, 38.1% 3FG, 49.7 FG%, 5.3 rpg, 74 steals
F: JR Angel Reese, 6-foot-3, 18.7 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 71 assists, 56 steals
G: JR Aneesah Morrow, 6-foot-1, 16.5 ppg, 10 rpg, 91 steals
G: FR Mikaylah Williams, 6-foot-0, 14.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 93 assists
G: GR Hailey Van Lith, 5-foot-7, 11.8 ppg, 82.7 FT%, 112 assists
Bench notables
F: SO Sa’Mayah Smith, 6-foot-2, 11.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 66.0 FG%
C: FR Aalyah Del Rosario, 6-foot-6, 4.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 54.1 FG%, 39 steals
Last game
LSU outperformed Middle Tennessee State offensively and defensively in the second half after falling behind at halftime of its second-round game Sunday. Reese recorded her 14th consecutive double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Van Lith took the lead defensively and guarded MTSU sharpshooter Savannah Wheeler while the Tigers limited the Blue Raiders to two 3-pointers in the second half. Nevertheless, the Tigers gave up a season-high 83 points in the game.
Points of strength
Aggressive scoring: LSU is within the top five teams in the nation in scoring offense, scoring margin and offensive rebounds per game. Six players average 11 points or more per game and, as a team, the Tigers shoot 46.5% from the field.
Getting under opponents’ skin: LSU has drawn attention for its trash-talking nearly as often as its play this season. Three MTSU players fouled out in the Tigers’ second-round game and LSU was able to score 26 points on free throws. LSU is the No. 1 team in the country in free-throw attempts and free throws made per game.
Points of weakness
Playing in the paint: LSU’s defense is physical, but doesn’t spread its opponents out. If UCLA can use its size to control the paint and area beneath the rim, it could lead to quick baskets.
Depth: The Tigers have six players who can score at the top of the stat sheet, but there’s a dramatic drop-off after that. The Bruins, who have a battle-tested bench, can gain an edge if they force LSU to work for all four quarters.
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Keys for UCLA
Battle on the boards: LSU is No. 2 in the country with a 13.1 rebounding margin, only UCLA is better. The Bruins have outrebounded opponents by 14.2 boards this season and has implemented additional rebounding drills this week in practice.
Starting fast: The Bruins trailed Creighton by 10 points in the second quarter of their second-round game. The Bluejays jumped out to an early lead by attacking the basket in transition and without hesitation before the Bruins settled down for the 67-63 victory.
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: UCLA vs. LSU
When: 10 a.m. Saturday
Where: MVP Arena, Albany, NY
TV: ABC