Busting Brackets
Fansided

Virginia Tech vs LSU: 2023 Women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four game preview, TV schedule

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 4, 2023; Greenville, SC, USA; LSU Lady Tigers forward Angel Reese (10) brings the ball inbounds in the first half against the Tennessee Lady Vols at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2023; Greenville, SC, USA; LSU Lady Tigers forward Angel Reese (10) brings the ball inbounds in the first half against the Tennessee Lady Vols at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Virginia Tech looks to make it to the finals of the Women’s NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. Can they get past Kim Mulkey and LSU in the semifinals?

TV schedule: Friday, March 31st, 7:00 pm ET. ESPN

Arena: American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas

One of the themes in both the Mens and Women’s NCAA Tournaments are teams making it to the Final Four for the first time ever. There were three on the men’s side, with the Virginia Tech Hokies (31-4) making history for the women. It’s the best season ever for them in both the Big Dance and wins overall, taking advantage of its 1 seed.

After beating Chattanooga, South Dakota, and Tennessee, the Hokies took on the 3 seed, Ohio State. It was a tighly contested battle in Virginia Tech took the late lead and held on for the 84-74 victory. Liz Kitley, the star forward for the team and multi-time ACC Player of the Year, produced 25 points and 12 rebounds in the win. Georgia Amoore went for 24 points on 7/19 shooting in the win.

Their opponent is LSU (32-2), who won nine total games two years ago before national-champions head coach Kim Mulkey came over from Baylor. She immediately turned them into a contender and got the top impact transfer from last offseason in Angel Reese, who averaged 23.2 ppg and 15.7 rpg through the year.

Reese had 13 points and 18 rebounds in the Tigers Elite 8 win over Miami, 54-42. Alexis Morris, who is second on the team in scorer, had a team-high 21 points and four steals while playing all 40 minutes. As a 4 seed, LSU got past Hawaii, Michigan, and squeaked past Utah in the final seconds to get to this point.

This is a matchup of two of the best frontcourt players in the country in Reese and Kitley. But in case they cancel each other out, it could come down to the supporting casts. Virginia Tech only plays six women but there’s plenty of balance between them. Meanwhile, LSU has a healthy 8/9 women rotation but their scoring production tends to rely on Reese and Moore.

Next. 10 key Big Ten (men) offseason storylines. dark

This is an evenly matched game that could very well come down to the wire. There’s a lot to like on both sides but I think that Virginia Tech just has a little more offense to provide in this one, unless Reese can find a way to go off. Look for the historic run of the women Hokies to continue.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 65, LSU 61

Home/March Madness