NCAA tournament | Season ends for NC State women in 80-73 Sweet 16 loss to LSU
SPOKANE, Wash. (WTVD) -- NC State squandered a late lead and fell 80-73 to LSU in the women's NCAA tournament's Sweet 16 round.
A year after a Final Four appearance, the Wolfpack was on the brink of advancing to the Elite Eight but failed to execute down the stretch and saw their season come to an end.
The Wolfpack led 69-64 with 4:29 left before LSU began to surge, led by Mikaylah Williams, who scored 10 points in the fourth quarter. After Kailyn Gilbert blocked a layup attempt by NC State's Zoe Brooks, Williams converted on the other end to make it 74-73 - part of a game-closing 10-0 run for the Tigers (31-5).
Aneesah Morrow had 30 points and 19 rebounds, and No. 3 seed LSU beat the Wolfpack for the second time this season, having prevailed 82-65 on Nov. 27 in Nassau, Bahamas.
LSU, which won the national title two years ago for coach Kim Mulkey, reached the Elite Eight for the third consecutive season and will face either top-seeded UCLA or No. 5 Mississippi on Sunday. Mulkey also won three national titles at Baylor.
Sa'Myah Smith had 21 points and 11 rebounds for LSU, and Williams finished with 17 points and eight boards.
Brooks led NC State with 21 points. Aziaha James finished with 12 points, and Zam Jones had 13, including three 3-pointers off the bench.
The game featured seven lead changes and four ties, and LSU's 21-10 advantage in the first quarter was the biggest lead for either team. Morrow had 10 points in the first period.
NC State surged back ahead to take a 40-36 halftime lead, and Morrow again dominated in the third quarter, scoring 11 of her team's 21 points in the period to put LSU ahead 57-53.
The Woilfpack opened the fourth quarter with an 8-1 run, holding the Tigers without a field goal until Morrow made a layup with just over seven minutes to play.
Morrow, the nation's top rebounder, had her 30th double-double of the season. Her effort on the boards helped the Tigers outrebound the Wolfpack 52-36, including an 18-10 advantage on the offensive glass.
N.C. State ends the season 28-7.
The Associated Press contributed.
