The Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase featured two top-five teams displaying high-level gameplay. Unfortunately, their opponents could not keep up. No. 5 LSU defeated Seton Hall 91-64, while No. 4 UConn trounced Iowa State 101-68 to conclude the showcase.
How LSU dominated
As predicted in our preview, Seton Hall was no match for LSU. The Tigers’ guards had a field day against the Pirates. Aneesah Morrow led with 24 points and 18 rebounds, earning her another double-double and a spot in the top 25 for rebounds in NCAA Division I history. Mikaylah Williams added 22 points with six 3-pointers, Flau’jae Johnson scored 17, and Kailyn Gilbert contributed 14 off the bench.
The island was poppin’ tonight ️
22 points, 6 made threes, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
Tied for the eighth most threes in a game in LSU history pic.twitter.com/nBjLIiZtfh
— LSU Women’s Basketball (@LSUwbkb) December 18, 2024
Despite Faith Masonius’ impressive 29-point game for Seton Hall, LSU’s dominance was evident throughout the match, especially in the first half when they outscored the Pirates 52-25.
How UConn took over
UConn took an early lead against Iowa State and never looked back. Paige Bueckers scored 27 points, Sarah Strong had a career-high 29 points, and Ashlynn Shade made seven 3-pointers in her 27-point performance.
Audi Crooks led the Cyclones with 22 points and six rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to challenge UConn’s dominance. Despite missing Azzi Fudd due to injury, UConn’s deep roster proved formidable.
The game highlighted UConn’s depth, with players like Shade stepping up in addition to their star players. The Huskies’ roster will be even more formidable when Fudd returns from injury.
What’s next for LSU and UConn?
Both LSU and UConn have upcoming games this week. LSU will face University of Illinois-Chicago on Thursday, while UConn will take on No. 7 USC on Saturday in a challenging matchup. A victory against USC would be a significant accomplishment for the Huskies this season.
