SPOKANE, Wa. – The LSU Tigers advanced to the Elite Eight with a nail biting 80-73 win over North Carolina State inside Spokane Arena on Friday night. 

The Tigers were led by Aneesh Morrow, who recorded her 30th double-double of the season with her game-high 30 points and 19 rebounds. Sa’Myah Smith continued her run of great performances as of late with a stat-line of 21 points and 10 rebounds, good for her second straight double-double and her fifth of the year. Mikaylah Williams also contributed with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists. 

The Wolfpack were led in scoring by Zoe Brooks, who finished with 21 points.

LSU will return to action on Sunday to face the winner of the UCLA-Ole Miss game in the Spokane 1 Regional Final with a trip to the Final Four on the line. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT/12 p.m. PT, and the matchup will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

Smith scored LSU’s first six points before Williams got involved to give LSU an early 10-5 advantage. The Tigers took a 10-point lead, 18-8, when Morrow sank a three just past the halfway point of the quarter. Morrow had 9 in the first quarter, Williams had 8 and Smith had six as the only three Tigers to score, giving LSU a 23-15 lead after one. LSU came out firing, shooting 46-percent in the first quarter and holding NC State to 30-percent.

Within the first three minutes of the second quarter, LSU cooled down and NC State tied the game at 25. The Tigers scored the next four and then NC State scored five straight to take the lead. Kailyn Gilbert knocked down her first shot to give LSU the lead back briefly. NC State came back to take a three-point lead, but Gilbert responded to tie the game at 34. LSU went into the half trailing, 40-36.

LSU evened the game up in the first minute and a half coming out of the break. Flau’Jae Johnson gave LSU the lead back, scoring her first points of the game on a fastbreak. The Tigers held NC State scoreless for over three minutes and led, 51-48, at the media timeout. LSU took a 57-53 lead into the fourth.

Within the first two minutes, NC State held LSU scoreless and retook the lead, building its lead to five. Looking to mount a comeback, LSU brought it back within two with Morrow reaching 30 going to work on the inside and took a timeout with 4:38 left in the game. NC State hit a three out of the timeout to bring its lead back to five. Williams scored the next four, bringing it back within one. LSU was able to pull ahead late and close out the victory, 80-73.

Check back later for the full recap.