By HENRY KRUEGER
SPOKANE — Aneesah Morrow had 30 factors and 19 rebounds, Kailyn Gilbert had a important block that arrange Mikaylah Williams’ go-ahead layup with 1:07 remaining, and No. 3 seed LSU rallied previous second-seeded N.C. State 80-73 in a tense girls’s NCAA Event regional semifinal on Friday.
The Wolfpack led 69-64 with 4:29 left earlier than LSU started to surge, led by Williams, who scored 10 factors within the fourth quarter. After Gilbert blocked a layup try by N.C. State’s Zoe Brooks, Williams transformed on the opposite finish to make it 74-73 — a part of a game-closing 10-0 run for the Tigers (31-5).
LSU, which received the nationwide title two years in the past for coach Kim Mulkey, reached the Elite Eight for the third consecutive season and can face both top-seeded UCLA or No. 5 Mississippi on Sunday. Mulkey additionally received three nationwide titles at Baylor.
Sa’Myah Smith had 21 factors and 11 rebounds for LSU, and Williams completed with 17 factors and eight boards.
Brooks led N.C. State (28-7) with 21 factors. Coach Wes Moore’s Wolfpack fell brief of their bid to achieve a second straight Remaining 4.
The sport featured seven lead modifications and 4 ties, and LSU’s 21-10 benefit within the first quarter was the most important lead for both crew. Morrow had 10 factors within the first interval.
N.C. State surged again forward to take a 40-36 halftime lead, and Morrow once more dominated within the third quarter, scoring 11 of her crew’s 21 factors within the interval to place LSU forward 57-53.
NC State opened the fourth quarter with an 8-1 run. The Wolfpack held LSU with out a area aim till Morrow made a layup with simply over seven minutes to play.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES GALORE
Morrow, the nation’s prime rebounder, had her thirtieth double-double of the season. Her effort on the boards helped the Tigers outrebound the Wolfpack 52-36, together with an 18-10 benefit on the offensive glass.
The 6-foot-1 ahead is one among two girls in NCAA historical past with greater than 100 double-doubles. She’s additionally the one participant within the nation with greater than 600 factors and 450 rebounds this season.
