GREENVILLE, S.C. – LSU women’s basketball hasn’t won an SEC championship in 16 years.
The Tigers have a chance to end that drought inside Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Sunday afternoon when it meets No. 1 South Carolina for the SEC Tournament championship. LSU defeated Ole Miss, 75-67, in the semifinals to advance to the title game.
It’s been since 12 years since LSU last had a shot winning the conference tournament championship.
This time around, Kim Mulkey’s Tigers (28-4) will have to go through the juggernaut that is Dawn Staley and South Carolina (31-0), which defeated LSU in Baton Rouge earlier this season, 76-70.
Here’s what you need to know about Sunday’s matchup.
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina make their money on defense
Plenty of attention gravitates towards the Gamecocks’ scorers like Te-Hina Paopao, freshman sensation MiLaysia Fulwiley, Chloe Kitts and more. But the biggest reason South Carolina has won 31 straight games has been how it defends.
South Carolina has the 14th-best scoring defense in women’s college basketball, allowing just 55.3 points per game.
Star center Kamilla Cardoso leads the way for the Gamecocks inside, as she affects any attempt opponents take in the lane. The breakout of sophomore swatter Ashlyn Watkins has not only brought South Carolina another capable defender but injects more aggression and tenacity inside. Gamecocks are tops in the country in blocks per game at eight.
South Carolina opponents make just 31.6% of their shots.
LSU women’s basketball must run through Angel Reese
LSU had success inside against South Carolina during the instant classic regular-season meeting. Star junior forward Angel Reese scored 15 points on 7-for-15 shooting while Aneesah Morrow led the Tigers in scoring with 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Feeding Reese the ball as often as possible equates to Cardoso having to defend a lot. Cardoso is prone to getting in foul trouble. While Watkins can defend, when South Carolina has had to play without Cardoso this season, the team hasn’t been quite the same.
And a big facet of LSU’s offense this season has been getting to the free throw line. In the first meeting, Reese and Morrow combined for just one free throw attempt. To have a shot at beating South Carolina, LSU will need its post players to find their way to the charity stripe far more often.
How will Kim Mulkey utilize her bench as LSU contends with injuries?
Last-Tear Poa went down with a concussion late in the Ole Miss game. LSU is already down Mikaylah Williams while Reese, Morrow and a host of other players are dealing with bumps and bruises on their own.
It’s been a physical SEC Tournament run for the Tigers, and that’s something that doesn’t play into their strengths as Mulkey has had a short bench all season long.
Against South Carolina, which arguably has more depth than any team in women’s college basketball, that usually spells recipe for disaster.
It seems evident that freshman center Aalyah Del Rosario, as well as freshman guard Janae Kent, who did play big minutes against Ole Miss and did some good things for LSU, will have to play more, something neither did against the Gamecocks earlier this season.
LSU women’s basketball score prediction vs. South Carolina
South Carolina 79, LSU 63: LSU just doesn’t have enough healthy bodies to really push the Gamecocks.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
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