Mulkey, LSU Top Virginia Tech, Advance To First NCAA Title Game In Program History

Watch the NCAA Women's Tournament Sunday at 2:30 p.m. here on WGNO.

DALLAS (AP) — Alexis Morris scored 27 points and turned two of his fourth-quarter fouls into two straight baskets by Angel Reese as LSU rallied to beat Virginia Tech 79-72 in Friday's semifinals. . the evening.

Reese finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for LSU (33-2), en route to its first national championship. This is the second season coach Kim Mulkey has returned to his hometown after losing five consecutive national semifinals from 2004-08.

LSU's semifinal winner will meet South Carolina-Iowa on Sunday.

And in his 21st season with Bayer, Mulkey, who won three national titles in four Final Four appearances, is only the second coach to lead two different teams to the national championship game. The other was women's first-round pick C Vivian Stringer in 1982 against Cheney and in 2007 against Rutgers.

Trailing 59-50 after three quarters, LSU went on a 15-0 run in five minutes heading into the fourth quarter. Flug Johnson took the lead for the first time after halftime when he stole a pass from Johnson to make it 64-62.

Reese scored six points in the rematch, including a three-pointer by Morris who hit a front basket. Reese fired again after picking up another gasp from Morris.

Elizabeth Keightley had 18 points and 12 rebounds for first-time ACC champion Virginia Tech (31-5).

Watch the NCAA Women's Tournament Sunday at 2:30 p.m. here on WGNO.

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Caitlin Clarke by Dia Cook | NCAA Women's Quad | ESPN College Basketball