WOMENS BASKETBALL

Louisiana State 78, Auburn 48

PETE IACOBELLI
ASSOCIATED PRESS

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Flau’jae Johnson scored 17 of her 25 points in the first half, Angel Reese had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 8 LSU raced to a 21-0 lead on the way to a 78-48 victory over seventh-seeded Auburn in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

Johnson, a sophomore guard, led the way, hitting a 3-pointer, making a three-point play and canning another long-distance shot to put LSU up 15-0 less than four minutes in.

Last-Tear Poa, starting in place of injured SEC freshman of the year Mikaylah Williams, had six points in the first quarter, which ended with LSU ahead 27-5.

Auburn (20-11) played LSU as tightly as any SEC opponent this season, winning 67-62 at home in January before falling 71-66 in the rematch a month later. Any chance of nailbiter ended quickly as Auburn missed its first 14 shots.

The drought ended on JaMya Mingo-Young’s foul shot nearly seven minutes into the quarter. Kaitlyn Duhon got the Auburn’s first basket a minute later.

McKenna Eddings led Auburn with career-high 15 points, all in the final two quarters.

Honesty Scott-Grayson, who made the all-SEC first team and averaged 18 points per game, finished with four points. A frustrated Scott-Grayson also picked up a technical foul in the third quarter for shouting from the bench.

Reese had her 21st double-double this season.

BIG PICTURE

Auburn was seeking to reach the SEC semifinals for the first time since 2009. But that chance fell away quickly and it now awaits an NCAA Tournament bid.

LSU looked every bit like the powerhouse that won the national title a season ago. Johnson pushing the pace with Reese and Aneesah Morrow on the other end to finish appears to be a highly effective combination that could challenge undefeated South Carolina if the teams meet in Sunday’s final.

Louisiana State athletics press release

March 8, 2024