It ended in a blowout, but LSU held it close in the 2nd and 3rd. It was largely due to Morris’s heroics — I didn’t think she had it in her. But I think they deserve some respect for playing a better team close for as long as they did. I’m sure this was a new experience for them, being so thoroughly over matched at every position.
Reese was a non-factor, and got some junk points at the end to make her stat line seem a bit more respectable. But even with that, I think she showed some grit and talent. The taunting and showboating was gone — one moment in the third it peeked out when she said “too small” to Saxton after one of her few baskets. But I think even she could see how ridiculous that had to seem in the eyes of the world.
My conclusion after this game is that LSU is definitely a top ten team, and maybe even a top 5 team. They are too thin on talent to really run with SC. But a lot of folks here (me included) like to cherish high hopes for an even thinner team.
And after today, I think no one can really stop SC. Unless there’s a disaster or a fluke, they look like NC favorites to me.