Johnson, Reese lead No. 8 LSU into SEC Tournament finals in a 75-67 victory over Mississippi
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Angel Reese said she and defending national champion LSU will be ready for No. 1 South Carolina, no matter what adversity they must overcome.
The latest came Saturday when guard Last-Tear Poa, already playing for injured freshman Mikaylah Williams, was taken off the court on a stretcher after hitting her head hard against the court behind the basket in the fourth quarter of the eighth-ranked Tigers 75-67 win over Mississippi to reach the SEC Tournament finals.
Poa was brought to St. Francis Hospital. LSU coach Kim Mulkey said she was told Poa's scan came back clean and she had movement in her limbs. The team said late Saturday night on social media that Poa had a concussion and was expected to be released from the hospital.
Reese, who finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds, helped LSU (28-4) break away after the Rebels (22-8) had cut an 11-point deficit to 52-51 late in the third quarter. Reese scored her team's next six points.
“It's not all about me, but I'll do whatever it takes to win,” Reese said.
That includes playing on a sore ankle — “My ankle is as big as a t3nnis ball right now,” Reese said — that she twisted in the quarterfinal win over Auburn. But it didn't stop her from competing against Mississippi and won't keep her out of a rematch with the undefeated Gamecocks.
“But I'm going to do whatever it takes and go out there and fight and fight and fight,” she said. “And tonight I'm going to rest up and then I'm going to do it again.”
South Carolina trailed by 11 at LSU earlier this season before winning 76-70 in overtime. It was the team's closest call before Saturday when Kamilla Cardoso's first-ever 3-pointer rescued the Gamecocks with a 74-73 victory over Tennessee in the other semifinal.
Mulkey said reaching the SEC finals was a goal, something LSU last accomplished in 2012. The Tigers have not won the crown since 2003.
“I think you're going to see two teams that are tired,” Mulkey said. “They had to play hard to win today. We had to play hard. It may not be a pretty game, who knows? But it is two of the most recognizable teams int he country.”
Flau'jae Johnson scored 21 points for LSU and Aneesah Morrow had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Madison Scott led Mississippi with 22 points while Davis finished with 21.
Rebels coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said when the game was on the line, LSU's players rose up and made the winning plays. “When it really came down to coming down, the reigning national champions reared their heads,” she said.
THE BIG PICTURE
Mississippi: Ole Miss has had a strong season and will be an NCAA Tournament team. But the Rebels don't yet have enough depth to hang with the SEC's best teams in LSU and South Carolina,
LSU: The Tigers looked like a powerhouse in their opener against Auburn. They looked more vulnerable against the Rebels and will need to play more like they did in Friday's quarterfinals to win their first SEC Tournament title since 2003.
RULE CHANGE
Mississippi coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said LSU's Poa got hurt because of college basketball rules regarding the call of a block or a charge that allow defenders to move in front of those on offense to draw a charge. The rule lets players take chances that can lead to injuries like Poa's.
“There needs to be a rule and them people won't slide under people,” she said. “And if we're trying to protect players, then why don't we make a rule? Because that was dangerous and she was trying to make a play.”
UP NEXT
LSU will play South Carolina on Sunday for the SEC Tournament title.
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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball