One game down, one game into the NCAA Women’s Final Four.
LSU will qualify for its first national championship after a big rally in the fourth quarter in a 79-72 victory over #1 seed Virginia Tech.
The third-seeded LSU overcame a nine-point deficit after three quarters to beat Virginia Tech, 28-13, in the final period to advance to Sunday’s National Championship Game. The Tigers will face the winner of his second Final Four game on Friday between No. 1 seed South Carolina and No. 2 seed Iowa.
Defending champions Gamecocks are looking to remain undefeated in their third consecutive appearance in the Final Four. South Carolina’s defense, led by Aaliyah Boston, was solid, but will be put to the test by Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.
Follow live updates throughout the day.
Follow the madness: Latest Women’s NCAA Tournament College Basketball Scores & Schedules
LSU advances to first championship game with win over Virginia Tech
DALLAS — A blistering 4th quarter comeback from LSU has erased Virginia Tech’s 12-point lead. It gave the Tigers a 79-72 victory in the first national semifinals in the Women’s Final Four, advancing LSU to the title game on Sunday.
The Tigers will face the winner of South Carolina vs. Iowa.
Coming in fourth at 59-50, LSU stole 15 unanswered points to take a 72-62 lead with 3:04 remaining. Virginia Tech, with a short bench, could not recover.
Alexis Morris led LSU with 27 points, while Angel Reese set a new women’s basketball single-season record with 24 points and 12 rebounds for her 33rd double-double of the season.
Virgina Tech was led by Kayana Taylor’s 17 points and 9 rebounds. Elizabeth Kitley also recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. But that wasn’t enough for the Hokies, who were playing in the Final Four for the first time in program history.
— Lindsey Schnell
3Q: 1st Virginia Tech 59, 3rd LSU50
Virginia Tech picked up where they left off in the second quarter, outscoring LSU 25-18 and extending their lead to 9. The Hokies surprisingly control Grass with 33 rebounds, including 10 offensive rebounds.
Kayana Traylor (17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals) and Elizabeth Kitley (16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks) are both double-double watches.
Alexis Morris led the Tigers with 17 points. Angel Reese and Ladadia Williams both added his 14 points.
Hokies’ Georgia Amoore sets NCAA single tournament record
Despite going 0-5 to start the game, Amoore rebounded and knocked down the trio’s 3, setting a new NCAA tournament record. She has hit her 23 3-pointers throughout her Madness March, which is her most successful 3-pointer in a single tournament. Amoore surpassed UConn’s Kia Nurse, who hit 22 3-pointers in 2017, and Arizona’s Ahri MacDonald, who hit the same number in 2021.
Half: No. 1 Virginia Tech 34, No. 3 LSU 32
Virginia Tech closed the first half with an 11-0 run to take its first two-point lead of the game. Hokies center Elizabeth Kitley stepped up on both ends of the floor after Taylor Soul was involved in a foul tourble, Kitley was just short of a double-double and she had two rebounds (12 points and eight). . Georgia Moore scored her 6 points off of her 3-pointers in her two innings and tied his NCAA record for her 3-pointers made in one tournament.
The Tigers were scoreless in the final 4:48 of the second half. Alexis Morris led the Tigers with 12 points and Angel Reese added his 10 points, but LSU was rebounded 25-14 by the Hokies.
1Q: No. 3 LSU 16, No. 1 Virginia Tech 13
Virginia Tech got off to a slow start, shooting 25% from the field and going 9-1 from 3. Georgia Amoore knocked down the Hokies’ only quarter-three-pointer after missing his five shot attempts in the first. Despite a missed shot and his seven turnovers, Virginia Tech was able to stay close to LSU thanks to his nine offensive rebounds in the quarter. Taylor Soule hit the bench early after committing his two fouls in the first quarter.
Alexis Morris led the Tigers with eight points. LSU shot 43.8% from the field and did not attempt a 3-pointer.
LSU cheerleader’s rescue ball stuck behind backboard
Cheerleaders to the rescue!
In the Final Four matchup between No. 1 seed Virginia Tech and No. 3 seed LSU, the game ball got stuck behind the backboard in the opening seconds. Two of his LSU cheerleaders performed a stunt releasing the ball to resume play at American Airlines his center.
ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said on the air: “What were the chances of that happening in the first 33 seconds of the National Semifinals?
Virginia Tech and LSU Face off in First National Semifinals
The No. 1 seed Virginia Tech Hawkeyes will face the No. 3 seed LSU Tigers as they each seek their first national title.
Both teams feature powerful guard post combos. LSU sophomore forward Angel Reese (23.2 points, 15.7 rebounds) is a double-double machine, leading the nation with 32 this season, while Virginia Tech senior center Elizabeth Kitley is averaging 18.2 per game. He averages a double-double in points and 10.7 rebounds. .
On the perimeter, Virginia Tech guard Georgia Amoore had a breakout season. Jr. averages 16.3 ppg, with the Hawkeyes he’s 5.0 apg, 3.0 rpg. LSU has its own star guard named Alexis Morris. Seniors average 14.9 ppg, 4.1 apg, and 1.9 spg for the Tigers.
LSU Director Kim Malkey to ‘Pretty in Pink’ at Final Four
Dallas – You know Kim Malkey’s outfit was about to pop on the Final Four stage.
And it certainly pops.
During the LSU Women’s Basketball Final Four showdown with Virginia Tech at the American Airlines Center on Friday night (6 p.m. ESPN), Mulky wore a bright pink jacket with large shoulders and wrists. I decided to accent the flowers on the pink fabric. arm.
Underneath the jacket, she wears a white blouse, pants, and white heels. Malky is matching with his granddaughter who entered the arena hand in hand with Malky in a white dress with pink ruffles on the shoulders.
— Cory Diaz, Lafayette Daily Advertiser
Kenny Brooks, a seventh-year student at Virginia Tech, is part of an elite company.his The No. 1-seeded Hawkeyes defeated Ohio State 84-74 on Monday to earn a ticket to the Final Four for the first time in a Blacksburg, Virginia-based program. They will face the No. 3 seed, his LSU, in the first National Semifinals on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
For Brooks, the only black male head coach in the Power Five, the moment has not lost its significance. (Ronald Huey will be second once Houston moves to the Big 12 in July.)
“Of course it’s a topic I don’t shy away from,” Brooks said. “I know when I was trying to make a name for myself, there weren’t many people doing it or defending people who looked like me.”
— Lindsey Schnell
Did Clark really hit that shot, or did he pass or finish the layup in transition?
Yes, she did, and she does—regularly. And it’s as spectacular as you can imagine. Maybe more so.
Clarke has become one of the biggest stars in the sport, walking the highlight reels. Pass and unlimited shooting range. But for being as talented and awe-inspiring as Clark himself, Iowa coach Lisa Bruder also deserves credit. Because she allows Clarke to be exactly who she is.
— Lindsey Schnell
The national semifinals between Iowa and South Carolina have been billed as “Aaliyah vs. Caitlin,” and for good reason. South Carolina forward Aaliyah Boston and Iowa guard Kaitlyn Clarke have been the best and most elite players in college basketball over the past two seasons, earning national acclaim. I was.
Seeing them play each other is on every fan’s wish list, and Friday night’s match is arguably the most anticipated of the Final Four.
— Nancy Armor
Women’s basketball fans have been raving about the showdown between Aaliyah Boston and Kaitlyn Clarke for the past two years. Well, the public finally got what they wanted.
“Everybody’s been talking about this matchup for a very long time, and I’m excited that it’s happening in the Final Four,” Boston said Thursday.
— Nancy Armor
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark Wins Wade Trophy, AP Women’s Basketball POY Award
Iowa Women’s Basketball Stars She won women’s college basketball’s highest honor, the Wade Trophy, on Thursday, the same award Aaliyah Boston won last season.
Clark is the first Hawkeyes player to receive an award from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Earlier in the day, she was tapped as the Associated Press Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. .
She collects awards. On Wednesday, Clarke was named the Naismith Player of the Year. Is a national convention next?
– Victoria Hernandez
When does the Women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four start?
The first of two games in the Final Four will begin at 7:00 PM ET on Friday. No. 3 LSU faces No. 1 Virginia Tech At the American Airlines Center in Dallas, which is also the venue for the championship game.
After the LSU-Virginia Tech game, No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 2 Iowa 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
What TV channel is the Women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four on?
Both games will air on ESPN with Ryan Ruocco (play-by-play), Rebecca Lobo (analyst), Holly Rowe (reporter) and Andraya Carter (reporter) on the phone.
Both games can be streamed live from the ESPN website and ESPN app.
Who are the key players on each team?
— No. 3 LSU: F Angel Reese, Sophomore (23.2 ppg, 15.7 rpg, 2.2 apg)
— Virginia Tech #1: G Georgia Amoore, Jr. (16.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, 3.0 rpg).
— No. 2 Iowa: G Kaitlyn Clarke, Jr. (27.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 8.6 apg)
— No. 1 South Carolina: F Arya Boston, Sr. (13.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.9 apg)
