Kim Mulkey, Flau’jae Johnson and the No. 3 LSU women’s basketball team knocked off Ta’Niya Latson and No. 6 Florida State, 101-71, in the second round of Women’s March Madness on Monday night to earn a spot in the Sweet 16.
Three Tigers scored at least 20 points: Mikaylah Williams led the way with 28, Aneesah Morrow dropped 26 to go along with 11 rebounds, and Sa’Myah Smith recorded 20 points and 12 rebounds. Johnson chipped in 13 points. Latson, the nation’s leading scorer, poured in 30, but it wasn’t enough for the Seminoles.
Mulkey and LSU are back in the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive season, and will face NC State next as they vie for their second national championship in the last three seasons.
USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game. Check it out.
Watch LSU vs. Florida State on Fubo (free trial)
LSU women’s basketball score, highlights
The LSU women’s basketball team took a one-point halftime lead and turned it into an 101-71 victory. LSU’s defensive attack led to a Florida State scoring drought of more than 8 minutes across the third and fourth quarters. The Tigers outscored the Seminoles 31-6 in the third.
Flau’jae Johnson finished with 13 points, Mikaylah Williams scored 28, Aneesah Morrow recorded 26, Sa’Myah Smith put up 20.
Kim Mulkey gets doused by LSU players in postgame celebration
Who will LSU women’s basketball play in Sweet 16?
The No. 3 LSU Tigers will play No. 2 NC State on Friday in the Sweet 16. Aziaha James and the Wolfpack beat Michigan State in the second round to advance.
Aneesah Morrow stats
LSU’s Aneesah Morrow recorded a double-double against FSU of 26 points (12-of-21 shooting) and 11 rebounds.
Mikaylah Williams stats
LSU’s Mikaylah Williams led the Tigers in scoring with 28 points on 10-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-3 from 3. She was perfect from the floor in the first quarter, going 5-of-5 shooting and 2-of-2 from 3 to score 12 points in the frame.
Ta’Niya Latson stats
Ta’Niya Latson, the nation’s leading scorer, dropped 23 first-half points for Florida State before the LSU defensive stymied her — as much as the nation’s leading scorer can be stymied. She finished 30 points on 11-of-26 shooting and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Her career high points in a game is 40, reached earlier this season, and the Florida State tournament record is 28 points, which she recorded in the Seminoles’ first-round win.
Flau’jae Johnson injury update
LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson, who has dealt with shin inflammation in her right leg that caused her to miss time earlier this season, now has a small wrap around her right knee. A day before LSU’s first-round game, Johnson was asked if she felt 100% and she answered: ‘Yep.’
Flau’jae Johnson layup gets LSU crowd on their feet
Flau’jae Johnson made a tough layup through contact in the third quarter to give the Tigers a 58-51 lead with about 7:30 left in the frame, sending the LSU bench and crowd into a bit of a frenzy. She’s got 11 points so far.
LSU women’s basketball score vs. Florida State at halftime
LSU leads Florida State 50-49 at halftime. The sides battled hard in the second quarter, trading leads seemingly every possession. Ta’Niya Latson is up to 23 points, and Aneesah Morrow is up to 14 points.
Flau’jae Johnson’s dad: How he influenced her rap career
‘I feel like his legacy was cut short,’ Johnson told ESPN. ‘It was taken from him. That’s why I sometimes feel like it’s my duty to finish what he started.’ — Jenna Ortiz
LSU vs. Florida State women’s basketball 1Q score
LSU led 31-24 after the first quarter. The guard play in this matchup is already living up to the hype. Ta’Niya Latson is on another planet early with 16 of Florida State’s first-quarter 24 points. — Meghan L. Hall
Flau’jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams swarming Ta’Niya Latson
Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams are playing lightning fast, keeping Latson on her heels. There are steals, snatched ankles and timely baskets all over the court. Fans should keep an eye on Johnson, who is the primary defender on Latson. Let’s see if Johnson gets into foul trouble trying to contain her. — Meghan L. Hall
LSU women’s basketball vs. FSU underway
Ta’Niya Latson opened up the scoring with a layup, quickly answered by an Aneesah Morrow layup.
Kim Mulkey outfit
LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey entered the Tigers’ second-round matchup against Florida State in a shimmering outfit. Mulkey’s look consists of white slacks underneath a cerulean blue suit jacket. The jacket is adorned with ombre crystals that fade out around the top of her chest. She’s wearing a simple white blouse underneath and her shoes are shiny silver stilettos.
LSU football coach Brian Kelly in the house
LSU head football coach Brian Kelly is in the building to support the No. 3 LSU women’s basketball team in their NCAA Tournament second-round game against No. 6 Florida State.
Kelly entered the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at the opening tip and was greeted with a warm applause as he approached his seat in the fifth row of the stands surrounded by LSU fans.
After LSU took a 17-10 first-quarter lead following an emphatic 11-0 run, Kelly rose to his feet as Florida State called a timeout.
Kelly’s support comes as the women’s team looks to build on their dominant 103-48 victory over San Diego State in the first round. The return of key players Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow has bolstered LSU’s championship aspirations.
The winner of this matchup will secure a coveted spot in the Sweet 16. — Kyle Tatelbaum, Special to USA TODAY
Flau’jae Johnson stats
Entering Monday, LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson is averaging 19.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 31.9 minutes per game. The 5-foot-9 junior is shooting 46.9% from the floor and 38.3% from 3.
Ta’Niya Latson stats
Latson is the top scorer in the nation at 25.0 points per game and is a key piece to the Seminoles having the second-highest scoring offense in the country (87.4 ppg). Latson has recorded at least 20 points in 24 of 28 games this season. She had six 30-point games this year and a career-high 40-point performance against Virginia Tech on Jan. 2. Latson became the fastest player in Florida State basketball history to score 2,000 points this season and picked up her third All-ACC First Team selection. She’s also a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. — Cydney Henderson
LSU women’s basketball last game
The Tigers knocked off No. 14 San Diego State 103-48 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Flau’jae Johnson scored 22 points, and six Tigers scored in double digits.
LSU women’s basketball stats
The LSU women’s basketball team has the sixth-ranked offense (85.0). The Tigers shoot 45.71% from the floor, good for 32nd in the country, and 34.28% from 3, 55th in the country.
LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey on Ta’Niya Latson
LSU coach Kim Mulkey acknowledged the challenge of containing the nation’s leading scorer Ta’Niya Latson in Monday night’s game.
‘She’s such a tremendous player,’ Mulkey said of Latson, who poured in 28 points in the first round and averages 25.0 a game. ‘She is going to get her points. What you have to do is try your best to contain her where she doesn’t hit 50 on you.’
The Tigers plan on containing Latson through a collective effort.
“She requires five LSU players to guard her,’ LSU guard Mikaylah Williams said. ‘All five will need to be ready to help and take those charges and be ready when the ball kicks out.’ — Kyle Tatelbaum, Special to USA TODAY
Women’s basketball bracket update: Who’s in Sweet 16 so far?
The Sweet 16 field for the women’s NCAA Tournament is nearly complete, with eight more teams eager to punch their ticket to the second weekend. Here’s the latest women’s bracket update.
LSU vs. Florida State score prediction
Cory Diaz, Lafayette Daily Advertiser: High octane matchup between two prolific offenses in LSU and FSU. Latson will get her points but the Tigers will do enough of slowing down her teammates that the Seminoles can’t quite catch up. LSU moves on to the Sweet 16. LSU 94, Florida State 89.
LSU vs. FSU stats
The matchup is poised to be a scoring showdown: The Seminoles are the second-ranked offense (87.5 points per game) and the Tigers are ranked sixth (85.0). Latson is the nation’s leading scorer (25 points per game), and Johnson is ranked 32nd (19 ppg).
Flau’jae Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson ready to face off again
LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson and Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson will face off for the first time since high school in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday.
The last time the two met was in 2022 when Latson’s American Heritage School beat Johnson’s Sprayberry High School 77-63. Latson outscored Johnson 38-33 in the game.
“Me and Flau’jae go way back,” Latson said. “We used to train together a little bit, too. She’s stronger now. She’s bigger now. She can shoot the ball. She’s always great to play against.” — Tatum Esparza, Special to USA TODAY
LSU vs. FSU women’s basketball odds
- Spread: LSU (-11.5)
- Moneyline Favorite: LSU (-700)
- Moneyline Underdog: Florida State (+500)
- Total: 170.5
Women’s March Madness championship odds
March Madness odds, according to BetMGM, as of Sunday, March 23.
Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the women’s tournament, everyone who sits at better odds than +5000.
- South Carolina (+200)
- UConn (+225)
- UCLA (+550)
- Texas (+700)
- USC (+800)
- Notre Dame (+1000)
- TCU (+2500)
- Duke (+3500)
- Tennessee (+3500)
- NC State (+4000)
- LSU (+4000)