LSU dominates 2nd half to clobber Middle Tennessee

Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow had double-doubles and No. 3 seed LSU ran away from No. 11 Middle Tennessee 83-56 in the second round of the Women's NCAA Tournament on Sunday in Baton Rouge, La.

Reese had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Morrow had 19 points and 13 rebounds, Flau'jae Johnson scored 21 and Mikaylah Williams scored 16 for LSU. The defending national champion Tigers (30-5) advanced to face the winner of Monday's game between No. 2 seed UCLA and No. 7 Creighton next weekend in Albany, N.Y.

Savannah Wheeler scored 21 points and Ta'Mia Scott added 15 before fouling out to lead the Blue Raiders (30-5), who saw two other players foul out as LSU made 26 of 37 free throws compare to their 6 of 9.

The Blue Raiders scored the first five points of the third quarter to take a 41-32 lead.

Reese's basket produced the Tigers' first points and Williams added a field goal and a 3-pointer during a 10-0 run that gave them a 42-41 lead.

The score was tied before Reese scored six points to help LSU open a 59-49 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Tigers scored 16 straight points from late in the third until the middle of the fourth, while Middle Tennessee scored just 15 points during the final 18-plus minutes.

LSU led by eight points twice in the first quarter before finishing the period with a 20-15 lead as Morrow scored seven points and Johnson scored six.

The Tigers scored the first four points of the second quarter before a 7-0 run pulled the Blue Raiders within 24-22. Reese answered with a field goal, but Middle Tennessee scored the next seven points to grab a 29-26 lead.

LSU closed within one point before Scott scored five points to help the Blue Raiders increase the lead to 36-32 at halftime.