The Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase features two compelling games on Tuesday, Dec. 17. No. 5 LSU will take on Seton Hall at 6 p.m. ET, followed by No. 4 UConn facing off against Iowa State at 8:30 p.m. ET. Both games will take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT and be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
Guards are how LSU attacks
LSU has had a generally soft schedule. But isn’t that always the case with a Kim Mulkey team? Yet, as long as Mulkey is in charge, the Tigers have been ready whenever tested, proving time and again that they’ll be prepared whenever they meet top competition. They’ve only faced one ranked team this season, defeating No. 21 NC State 82-65.
This season, with star Angel Reese off to the WNBA, they’ve been much more guard-dependent. All the top scorers on the team are guards, with junior Flau’jae Johnson coming into her own, averaging 21.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Senior Aneesah Morrow is right behind her with 17.8 points and a team-high 13.7 rebounds per game, while sophomore Mikaylah Williams adds 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
6️⃣0️⃣ COMBINED POINTS
Our @jerseymikes Naismith Women’s College Watch List Tigers WENT OFF in today’s win against #20 NC State to take home the @BahaMarHoops Pink Flamingo ‘ship
Aneesah Morrow-2️⃣0️⃣ pts
Mikaylah Williams-2️⃣4️⃣ pts
Flau’jae Johnson-1️⃣6️⃣ pts@LSUwbkb… pic.twitter.com/WRm0anFv2i— Naismith Awards (@NaismithTrophy) November 27, 2024
It’s hard to envision Seton Hall making this much of a game. They are not an exceptionally good rebounding team, don’t have a dominant big to counter LSU’s perimeter game and certainly can’t fight fire with fire against the Tiger guards. Sixth-year forward Faith Masonius, who transferred to Seton Hall from Maryland and is averaging 16.9 points per game, will have to have the game of her career for the Pirates even to have a sliver of a chance of stealing a victory at Mohegan Sun.
The Huskies are still on track
UConn suffered a painful loss to Notre Dame, ending its undefeated season. But the Huskies’ main goal—a national title—is still well within their grasp. Paige Bueckers is having a great (redshirt) senior year as a Husky, averaging 20 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
For the third time this season, Paige Bueckers is the BIG EAST Player of the Week!
She averaged 24.5 points while shooting 61% last week. pic.twitter.com/Dm4aX1OFva
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) December 16, 2024
It’s not just the Bueckers extravaganza at UConn; they are stacked with talent. Freshman forward Sarah Strong is an elite presence inside, flirting with a double-double in every game, and transfer guard Kaitlyn Chen is getting more comfortable and effective game by game.
For Iowa State, feeding the ball to sophomore center Audi Crooks is the key to success. Playing with physicality, dominating the paint and slowing the game down is the way to upset UConn. The Cyclones have the players to do that, and Crooks has demonstrated that she can take over games.
Game information
No. 5 LSU Tigers (12-0) vs. Seton Hall (8-2)
When: Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. ET
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT
How to watch: FS1
No. UConn Huskies (9-1) vs. Iowa State Cyclones (9-3)
When: Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT
How to watch: FS1
