2023 SEC Freshman of the Year Fraujay Johnson had one of her best performances of the season on Saturday when the team needed her most.
Johnson’s team-high 24 points helped the defending national champion LSU Tigers pull away from the second-seeded UCLA Bruins in the Sweet 16 with a 78-69 victory. Angel Reese finished the game with 16 points and 11 rebounds, marking her 26th double. Twice as many seasons.
LSU trailed 67-64 with 2:46 left in the fourth quarter, but went on a 14-2 run to finish the game.
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LSU guard Rust Tia Pois, 13, reacts with teammates during the third quarter of the Sweet 16 game against UCLA during the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 30, 2024 in Albany, New York. Forward Angel Reese (10 years old) (AP Photo/Mary Altafer)
LSU will appear in the Elite Eight for the second straight season, facing Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes. LSU defeated Iowa State in the national championship game last season.
LSU led by seven points at halftime. However, the Bruins made only 2 of their first 20 3-pointers, then 4 of their next 5.
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Back-to-back 3-pointers by Londyn Jones sparked an 11-2 run that gave UCLA a 45-44 lead and the teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 48 headings.
Johnson made two 3-pointers early in the first half. Her spinning baseline drive and layup highlighted her 8-0 LSU spurt that put the Tigers ahead 25-18.
During the second half of the NCAA Sweet 16 game, LSU Tigers’ Aneesah Moreau (age 24), Frauge Johnson (age 4) and Angel Reese (age 10) hit Lauren Betts (age 51) of the UCLA Bruins. try to block. Tournament at his MVP Arena on March 30, 2024 in Albany, NY (Sarah Steer/Getty Images)
The Bruins made just 1 of 16 shots from behind the arc until Jones hit a 3-pointer from the left side just before the halftime buzzer. This ended LSU’s 8-0 losing streak and cut its 10-point lead to 34-27.
On March 30, 2024, Angel Reese (10) of the LSU Tigers was hit by Christine Iuala (22) of the UCLA Bruins during the first half of the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York. (years old). (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LSU is seeking to become the first team in NCAA Division I women’s basketball to win back-to-back national titles since the University Huskies won four straight in 2016.
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The Bruins have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 19 times and the Sweet 16 nine times, including three in the past four years. However, they have only made it to the regional finals twice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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