Bayou Barbie is back to spearhead LSU’s another championship bid. Lady Tigers are roaring at the moment and look lethal as they march to Sweet Sixteen. Defiant display by Hailey Van Lith, Aneesah Morrow and Angel Reese make Kim Mulkey’s squad right on the money.

LSU’s huge 83-56 win against Middle Tennessee pushed them to the Sweet 16, raising questions about whether this will be Reese’s final game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Another burning question lingers: Will LSU repeat March Madness success?

Lady Tigers enter next level

Top seeds dominated the women’s NCAA tournament first round but upsets by No. 7 seed Duke and No. 5 seeds Colorado and Baylor raised uncertainty. However, with an 83-point win, No. 3 LSU advanced to the Sweet 16 and got one step closer to defending its national title. As they battle for a berth in the Final Four, Duke, Colorado, and Baylor are among the other teams making progress, reported athlonsports.

The diversity of teams in contention can be seen by Baylor’s first berth under coach Nicki Collen, Colorado’s repeating win, and Duke’s return to Sweet 16 since 2018. The tournament is still intense even after near upsets like Iowa State’s vs Stanford. As Sunday’s games end, excitement mounts for Monday’s round of 32 matches, which will determine the winners of the remaining half of the Sweet 16 lineup.

This year, LSU ranked 320th in strength in an embarrassing non-conference schedule which also raised questions over its potential. In addition, their sparse victories against strong opponents—South Carolina, where they lost by 24 points, and Tennessee, where they split wins—further raised questions about their place facing stronger teams.

On a positive note, rising from ashes, LSU showed off their defensive skills by holding Michigan to only 42 points, a significant drop from the Wolverines’ 73.5 points per game season average. And further stunned the fans with Reece taking command toward title defensive pursuit.

What’s Next for Angel Reese and Co.

After falling behind Middle Tennessee State by four points at the first half, LSU pulled off an incredible comeback, outscoring their Mt’s 51-20 to one final stretch posing an 83-56 finish. In her post-match analysis, Reese highlighted the team’s shift in energy, which indicated their will to win. With rumors swirling about Reese’s possible professional career, her uncertain future adds even more interest as LSU advances in the tournament.

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