The LSU Tigers went to the Bahamas for a Thanksgiving-week tournament where they opened against a very solid Washington team. The Huskies had the lead for much of the game, but a big second half led to a Kailyn Gilbert buzzer beater as the Tigers took down Washington 68-67.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU and Washington kicked off their time in the Bahamas with a back and forth run of offense as it was a 8-98 tie at the first quarter media timeout with 3:56 to go in the opening frame. However, the Huskies rolled to end the quarter on a 16-3 run led by Sayvia Sellers who had six points during the run to lead 24-11 at the break.
Sa’Myah Smith connected on a layup with 5:01 left in the second quarter that cut the lead to 26-21 and capped a 10-2 run for the Tigers, but Washington answered with a 10-5 run of their own to take a 36-26 lead into the half. Sellers led all scorers with 12 while Aneesah Morrow led LSU with 9 on just 3-11 shooting.
LSU continued to struggle down the stretch of the third quarter, failing to keep up with the dominant performance Sellers conintue to have as she led Washington with 21 points through three quarters of play. At the 3:25 mark, the Huskies led 47-36 over the Tigers. Smith, Morrow, and Flau’Jae Johnson each were in double figures for Kim Mulkey’s squad.
The Tigers did go on a run to cut the lead to 52-48 at the end of the frame as LSU outscored Washington 12-5 in the final three minutes to create a tightly contested game heading into the fourth quarter.
LSU continued to keep things close with Washington down the stretch of the fourth quarter as Kaylin Gilbert hit clutch free throws to cut it to two before Hannah Stines got the points back for the Huskies.
LSU called a timeout with 3:36 left in the game down 62-57 after Sellers once again hit from downtown to extend the Huskies lead. The sophomore was up to 24 points to lead all scorers.
Johnson cut the Washington lead to just one point on a major layup with 44 seconds remaining in the game. Then, after forcing a turnover with 20 seconds left, Kailyn Gilbert seals it with a layup in the final seconds to win the game 68-67 for LSU.
BIG NUMBER: 42
LSU responded in the second half, outscoring their opponent 42-31 to get the critical one point win and stay undefeated.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Aneesah Morrow
Morrow had another double double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, but didn’t shoot the ball well as she went 5=17 from the field but 8-12 from the free throw line.
UP NEXT: The Bayou Bengals will return home to the PMAC to face North Carolina Central on Sunday with tip off set for 2:00 p.m. on Acadiana’s Classic Country Mustang 107.1.
