LSU's Mikaylah Williams, Flau'jae Johnson ignite Tigers in second half vs. Florida State
Editor's note: Follow LSU vs. NC State women's basketball live updates from their Sweet 16 game in March Madness.
BATON ROUGE, La. – Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams ignited the LSU women's basketball team in the second half against No. 6 Florida State to lead the Tigers to a convincing 101-71 win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Both Williams and Johnson saw reduced minutes during the first half after each picked up two fouls. With the duo out, the Tigers bench helped them stay in the game and go into halftime with a 50-49 lead.
“The bench did amazing,” Williams said. “They kept us in the game once again. They’ve done that for the last three or four games at this point.”
How LSU stopped FSU's Ta'Niya Latson
The Tigers were able to contain the nation's leading scorer Ta'Niya Latson in the second half, holding her to just seven points after she dropped 23 in the first half.
“(We) just made a slight change on guarding Latson,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. “Instead of fighting to get over the screen that they were setting at the top, go under. She makes threes, we live with it.”
The defensive adjustment was one of multiple things discussed in the locker room during halftime.
“We got in the locker room and we were like, ‘Somebody had to take it personal,’” freshman guard Jada Richard said.
Mikaylah Williams stats, Flau'jae Johnson stats
Williams and Johnson started and played for the entire third quarter and helped the team go on a 17-0 run to close the frame, extending the Tigers' lead to 81-55.
“For me and Flau’jae, it was just coming in and bringing some energy,” Williams said. “Giving the team some new momentum, giving them a new look. And then just not getting down on ourselves for sitting in the second quarter.”
Williams closed the game with 28 points, her third highest point total of the season, and broke open the game with 12 in the third quarter. Johnson finished with 13 points, nine of which came in the third quarter.
Flau'jae Johnson injury update
Johnson was visibly limping on the court during the first few minutes of the first quarter. She was subbed out and immediately spoke with a trainer behind the bench who massaged her right knee. She returned wearing a band below her right knee, returning to the bench for all but the first 10 seconds of the second quarter.
After the game, Mulkey said she thought Johnson may have hurt herself and that’s why she took her out early. On the sideline during the first quarter, Johnson told her she had bumped knees with someone but there was no lasting pain or injury.
Who does LSU women's basketball play in Sweet 16?
The Tigers will need both of their stars at their best as they head to the Sweet 16 to face No. 2 NC State on March 28 in Spokane, Wash.
Tatum Esparza is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.