Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishSPOKANE, Wash. — LSU rode into the Sweet 16 following a 101-point outing against Florida State, with the nation’s ninth-ranked offense once again showing off its firepower. The Tigers met a similarly offensive-minded team in NC State; Wolfpack guard Zoe Brooks called her team’s win over the Seminoles — a game in which the Wolfpack scored 97 points — her favorite of the season.An offensive explosion was to be expected, and superstar All-American Aneesah Morrow was the one who brought it for the Tigers. Her 30 points and 19 rebounds were game highs in both categories, and her relentlessness kept LSU attached whenever NC State tried to break away, resulting in an 80-73 win. Morrow’s reward is a return to the Elite Eight, the third straight trip to the regional finals for the Tigers, all of which have come as the No. 3 seed.
Down to the wire!
LSU survives against NC State to claim a spot in the Elite Eight. pic.twitter.com/zOsSKw1wrf
— The Athletic WBB (@TheAthleticWBB) March 29, 2025Morrow goes offMorrow was reflecting early Thursday morning — at the bathroom sink while brushing her teeth, of all places — about how thankful she was to be here, in this moment.Her parents, she said, had sacrificed so much for her basketball career. If she only knew what Friday had in store for her.As Morrow came down with the game’s final rebound — her 19th of the night — she underhand-tossed the ball into the air at midcourt and began to celebrate with her teammates as they ran over toward the LSU cheering section.The Chicago native dropped 30 points — in addition to hauling in those 19 rebounds — for her third consecutive double-double of this tournament. She finished 12-of-25 from the field, hit two 3-pointers within one minute late in the first quarter and was the best player from start to finish Friday night.NC State, anchored by its guards, knew coming into the game that Morrow would present a challenge, with NC State coach Wes Moore calling her the Tigers’ “lead dog.” But it was clear from the onset that the Wolfpack wouldn’t have enough answers for her.Morrow had 13 points by halftime and scored 11 points in the third quarter before chipping in six more in the fourth. She has 56 points and 30 boards in her last two outings.Smith peaking at just the right timeRedshirt sophomore forward Sa’Myah Smith entered Friday averaging 6.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. But as Morrow said Thursday, when Smith “eat(s), everybody eat(s).” That was evident again Friday.Smith finished with a double-double for the second consecutive game, scoring 21 points and coming down with 11 rebounds. The 21 points came fresh off a 20-point performance against Florida State in the second round and mark a new season high for the Tigers’ center, who gives LSU another threat outside of Morrow, Flau’Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams.Should UCLA get past Ole Miss later Friday night, Smith would likely be responsible for Bruins star center Lauren Betts in a fun matchup featuring two of the nation’s top teams.“We know this is what she’s capable of,” Johnson said this week. “I think she now feels more confident, and that’s where we need her.”Johnson’s slow nightJohnson, the Tigers’ leading scorer, entered Friday averaging 18.8 points per game. Just once this season had she been held to single digits: a 6-point affair against Alabama in late February. But in a rare off night for the Tigers’ star, Johnson scored just 3 points on 1-of-8 shooting. She went scoreless in the first half, not picking up a bucket until she kissed an easy transition layup off the glass with about 6 1/2 minutes to play in the third quarter.But Johnson — about whom Morrow joked Thursday has, well, more energy than most — got involved in other ways. She hyped up her teammates after big plays, steadied the Tigers in their half-court offense and commanded a group that scored 42 points in the paint to NC State’s 22. The junior guard also finished with five rebounds and four assists.That should give LSU all the more confidence.That the Tigers got the job done on a night when Johnson couldn’t get going proved that LSU is a team that might be able to win in multiple ways despite relying on its big three for most of the season. Mulkey said earlier this week that although the NCAA Tournament is typically viewed as an event dominated by guards, it was LSU’s versatility that gave her confidence.“We have great post play, and we always have had great post play on the teams I’ve coached throughout the years,” she said. “We feel like we have a balance.”NC State’s seniors end on a low note but continue program’s winning traditionIt wasn’t the best outing for any of the Wolfpack’s graduating trio of Saniya Rivers, Aziaha James and Madison Hayes. Hayes was in foul trouble from the first quarter, James had 12 points (her lowest scoring total since January) and Rivers was in hell trying to guard Morrow and keep her off the glass.But this is the same trio that led NC State back to the Final Four in 2024 for the first time in 26 years and won the program’s seventh conference championship dating back to 1978. James and Hayes end their careers seventh and eighth, respectively, in total win shares for the Wolfpack, and Rivers is 10th in assists and ninth in steals.NC State brings back six players who participated in the Sweet 16 matchup, including Zoe Brooks, Zamareya Jones, Tilda Trygger and Maddie Cox, all of whom are underclassmen. Wes Moore will have another young group to mold as he tries to keep the Wolfpack in ACC contention.(Photo: Alika Jenner / Getty Images)
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