LSU uses second-half surge to rout Middle Tennessee, reach women's Sweet 16

BATON ROUGE, La. — Middle Tennessee just hangs around. It's what the Blue Raiders do.

Finally, LSU had had enough. The Tigers' renewed investment on the defensive end led to a lethal offensive spark as they closed out the game on a 39-15 run to win 83-56 to advance to their 16th Sweet 16 appearance in program history. LSU (30-5) will meet the winner of No. 2 UCLA and No. 7 Creighton in Albany, New York.

After the first quarter that ended on a 3-pointer off the glass from Jalynn Gregory, LSU held just a five-point lead. Blue Raiders point guard Savannah Wheeler weaved in and out of LSU's defense for much of the second quarter with a layup at the 4:53 mark that gave MTSU the lead, a lead it held at halftime of the NCAA Tournament second-round matchup.

If the No. 3 Tigers were not to going to fall victim to MTSU's lay-low, then-pounce attack, they needed to string together stops on the defensive end while combatting the stretches when it faced MTSU's zone.

Trailing early in the third quarter, LSU turned its defense up, forcing three turnovers from Middle Tennessee while scoring 10 straight points to reclaim the lead.

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LSU settled for the outside shot early

Somehow the Tigers shot 39% from the field in the first half. But it felt worse than that as the first two quarters rolled on.

Aneesah Morrow, Flau'jae Johnson, Hailey Van Lith, Mikaylah Williams, and even Angel Reese a couple of times, looked disinterested in driving into the lane and instead settled for a 3-pointer or long jump shot. That played right into MTSU's hands.

LSU was 2-of-8 from 3 in the first half. More troubling, it was 4-for-12 on jumpers in the first 20 minutes.

While the Tigers couldn't get their offense going, the Blue Raiders mounted the slow, steady climb to their halftime lead. Ta'Mia Scott knocked down three 3s while Wheeler scored 10 first-half points.

With game tied in third quarter, Kim Mulkey had message for Angel Reese

With the game tied at 43 and Johnson at the free-throw line, LSU coach Kim Mulkey yelled for Reese's attention. Reese gazed over to the sideline and Mulkey looked at her and said, "I need you."

On LSU's next possession, Reese wrapped a no-look pass around to a streaking Morrow who made the layup and put the Tigers ahead.

With less than a minute to go in the third, Reese drew the fifth and final foul from MTSU star center Anastasiia Boldyreva. Reese got up from the floor, smiled and waved to Boldyreva as she exited the floor.

The last 4:21 of the third quarter was pivotal for LSU as Reese, who had just eight points before that time, scored six to close out the period and finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, her 14th straight double-double. LSU went on a 16-6 run and took a 10-point lead, its largest of the afternoon.

Flau'jae Johnson propels Tigers back to Sweet 16

When the Blue Raiders took their largest lead of the day in the third quarter, the Tigers turned to Johnson.

The sophomore sensation's tear through the third started on the defensive end. She got two blocks and a steal during LSU's stretch to the lead.

She scored nine of her 21 points in the third but her play on both ends of the floor powered the Tigers past Middle Tennessee.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz atbdiaz@gannett.com.