LSU UPSETS UTES FOR FIRST ELITE 8 IN 15 YEARS
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LaDazhia Williams was determined to extend her career. Thanks to her best game of the season, her LSU teammates will get to keep playing, too.
“I'm not ready to go home,” she said. “We already know where we want to go.”
Williams and the thirdseeded Tigers reached the Elite Eight for the first time in 15 years, holding off No. 2 seed Utah 66-63 on Friday night.
Williams had a seasonhigh 24 points to boost LSU (31-2).
Alexis Morris, another fifth-year transfer like Williams, had 15 points. Her two foul shots with 10 seconds left put LSU ahead for good, 64-63. She later made
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two more free throws.
Angel Reese added 17 points and 12 rebounds for her 31st double double of the season.
Coach Kim Mulkey's Tigers can reach their first Final Four since 2008 on Sunday night when they face No. 9 seed Miami to close the Greenville 2 Regional.
Down 64-63, the Utes had a chance to back in front, but Jenna Johnson — a near 75 percent foul shooter — missed both attempts with 4.7 seconds to go. Utah's Dasia Young had her hands on the rebound, but LSU's Sa'Maya Smith took it away.
Utah coach Lynne Roberts had her arm around Johnson on the bench after the misses.
“I don't think that'll happen again if she gets that opportunity again, knowing her, the competitor she is,” Roberts said.
Gianna Kneepkens led Utah (27-5) with 20 points. Alissa Pili, a second-team AP All-American, had 14 points.
More Greenville 2 Regional No. 9 Miami 70, No. 4 Villanova 65:
Jasmyne Roberts scored a career-high 26 points — including a stickback for the go-ahead, threepoint play with 38.8 seconds left — to help Miami overcome blowing a 21-point lead and beat Villanova, pulling the program to within a win of the Final Four.
Miami had reached the Sweet 16 only once before, in 1992.
The ninth-seeded Hurricanes (22-12) hung on down the stretch after Villanova made its push back behind the latest big-scoring effort from Associated Press firstteam All-American Maddy Siegrist. The nation's scoring leader, Siegrist had 31 points, 13 rebounds and five steals for fourth-seeded Villanova (30-7).
Seattle 4 Regional No. 2 Iowa 87, No. 6 Colorado 77:
Caitlin Clark scored 31 points and No. 2 seed Iowa shook disappointments the past two seasons and reached the Elite Eight of the women's NCAA Tournament with a win over Colorado.
After two straight tournaments where Clark's season ended earlier, the Hawkeyes will play for a spot in just the second Final Four in school history on Sunday.
Clark was the catalyst for Iowa's big second half, and the first-team All-American finished 11 of 22 shooting with four 3-pointers and eight assists. It was her 11th game this season scoring at least 30 points.
Iowa (29-6) will face No. 5 seed Louisville on Sunday.
Frida Formann led Colorado (25-9) with 21 points.
No. 5 Louisville 72, No. 8 Mississippi 62: Hailey Van Lith scored 21 points to help the Cardinals (26-11) reach at least the Elite Eight for the fifth consecutive year. The Rebels (25-9) hadn't advanced this far since 2007, when they made their fifth Elite Eight.