Tigers vs Wolfpack: Morrow’s Legendary Performance Sends LSU to Elite Eight
SPOKANE, WA — When LSU needed a hero on Friday night, Aneesah Morrow answered without hesitation. In a gritty Tigers vs Wolfpack showdown that felt like a battle from start to finish, the fifth-year senior delivered one of the most dominant and emotional performances of her career—dropping 30 points and pulling down 19 rebounds to help LSU survive a tough NC State team, 80-73, and punch their ticket to the Elite Eight for the third year in a row.
This win wasn’t just about talent. It was about heart, resilience, and a group of women refusing to let their season end without a fight.
“I told them in the huddle—this is not how I’m going out,” Morrow said, her voice firm and eyes locked in. “And they believed me.”
The Anchor in the Storm
From the opening tip, it was clear that Morrow was on a mission. She attacked the paint with purpose, bullied her way to the rim, and cleaned up the glass like it was personal. NC State had no answer. No scheme, no double team, no adjustment slowed her down.
She was everywhere.
Morrow’s 30 points and 19 rebounds marked her 64th career game with at least 20 and 10—more than anyone else in women’s college basketball over the last quarter-century. But on Friday night, it wasn’t about numbers. It was about refusing to go home.
“She carried us,” LSU head coach Kim Mulkey said. “I was honestly upset she didn’t get that 20th rebound.”
A Scary Moment for Flau’Jae
The night wasn’t all smooth sailing. Star guard Flau’Jae Johnson, known for her scoring and swagger, had a brutal game—just 1-for-8 shooting—and things got worse in the fourth quarter when she crashed hard chasing down a fast break. She stayed down. When she got up, she wasn’t herself.
“She was seeing double,” Mulkey said. “They wouldn’t let her come back in. And I respect that call. Safety first.”
Johnson spent the final minutes on the bench, staring blankly, a towel draped over her head. For a team that leans on her energy, it was a gut punch.
But LSU didn’t fold.
Next Woman Up
With Johnson out, someone had to step up. Enter freshman Mikaylah Williams.
The highly touted guard had been quiet most of the night, but in the final four minutes, she came alive. She scored 10 points in the game’s closing stretch, including a slick hesitation layup that gave LSU the lead for good with just under two minutes left.
“That wasn’t just for me,” Williams said. “That was for ‘Neesah. That was for Flau’Jae. That was for all of us.”
LSU’s closing run—10 unanswered points—was fueled by defense and grit. Kailyn Gilbert, who had struggled guarding NC State’s Zoe Brooks earlier, came up with a massive block. Sa’Myah Smith followed with another rejection and hit both free throws after drawing a foul. Just like that, LSU slammed the door shut.
NC State didn’t score again.
End of an Era for NC State
The loss was painful for the Wolfpack, who were looking to make a second straight Final Four appearance. It also marked the end of the college careers of Aziaha James, Saniya Rivers, and Madison Hayes—three players who helped elevate NC State into a national contender.
“They changed this program forever,” NC State head coach Wes Moore said, holding back emotion. “I love them. I’ll miss them. We’re even joking about getting lawyers to try to get them a fifth year.”
Zoe Brooks did her best to carry NC State, scoring 21 points and attacking fearlessly in the fourth quarter. But LSU’s defense shut her down when it mattered most.
“She had me a few times,” Gilbert admitted. “But I wasn’t letting her end our season.”
Source: LSU makes third straight Elite Eight behind dominant Morrow
Still Dancing
LSU now turns its attention to Sunday’s Elite Eight showdown against UCLA, who knocked off Ole Miss earlier in the night. Mulkey said she’s hopeful Johnson will be ready, but made it clear—this team isn’t built around one player.
“We’ve got weapons,” she said. “And we’ve got experience. More importantly, we’ve got heart.”
For Morrow, the journey isn’t over yet. After transferring from DePaul following LSU’s national title run in 2023, she’s hungry for her own Final Four moment. And now she’s one win away.
“I came here for this,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of something special. I still believe we can make it happen.”
Moments That Mattered
• With 5:04 left, LSU trailed by four and had lost Johnson. Many teams would’ve unraveled. The Tigers found another gear instead.
• Gilbert’s block on Brooks with under two minutes left sparked the game-winning run. That single play flipped the momentum entirely.
• Morrow became the first player since 2010 to put up 30 and 15 in a Sweet 16 or beyond. It wasn’t just historic—it was clutch.
• Smith’s two late free throws sealed the win and capped off LSU’s 10-0 finishing stretch.
No Quit in the Bayou Bengals
After the game, Mulkey pointed to five players in the locker room who had never even been to the Sweet 16 before this year. Now they’re going to the Elite Eight. For them, this is all new. For LSU, it’s becoming a tradition.
And no one’s taking it for granted.
“You play for moments like this,” Williams said. “To battle, to come back, to win. That’s why we’re here.”
Morrow agreed.
“This team doesn’t fold,” she said. “We fight. We believe. And we’re not done yet.”
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