Johnson and Williams pace LSU past Jacksonville in opening round of March Madness

FULL INTERVIEWS: Johnson and Williams pace LSU past Jacksonville in opening round of March Madness

FULL INTERVIEWS: Johnson and Williams pace LSU past Jacksonville in opening round of March Madness

And just like put your foot on the gas immediately. How much of that was the mindset? Um, yeah, I think it was our mindset, but I think it also was just happy to be out there. I mean we haven’t played in, I think, *** week and *** half, so I think all the emotions was just, was just flowing. We was excited to be out there, just excited to play in the PMAC again, um, and now one more time. So I think just that mindset of just knowing that this is our last opportunity to play in the PMAC, so just kind of putting on for our fans and. Just just ready to win more games. This is the 15th time that y’all have scored over 100 points. This season, which like ties the record all time, like, obviously y’all have been having it seems like y’all been having *** lot of fun on the court, but to hear that, how cool is that to know that you’ve made history. Yeah, I mean I was actually unaware of that, but that’s, that’s crazy. I think when we all just put it together like it’s *** sight to see like I said, um, 100 points. I mean we have *** lot of people on the team that can just score the ball, so like I said when we all get going I think the sky is the limit in terms of points. You guys have there’s more records I think uh record for. NCAA tournament game, 116 points in *** quarter with 34 in the first quarter, 18 steals was *** program record in the NCAA tournament game. What, what goes into that? How are you guys able to, to have such *** historic day for this program, which is *** very storied program, by the way. Yeah, um, I think we just all out there doing what we do. I mean, we hear about the records and things afterwards, but it’s not like something we strive to break or anything like that. It’s just us being in the flow of the game, just being natural and just being ourselves and putting confidence in the next teammate, so you guys came in with the, you know, #1 offense, you know, in the tournament, but it seems like in the 1st quarter in the early 1st half. Defense kind of took control and, yeah, like I said, we were just excited to be out there, um, we know that like I said, if we wanna be the team that we know we can be, we have to take pride in, uh, defense like y’all say, everyone knows we can score the ball, um, records and points and things like that, but when we put it together in terms of offense and defense, then I feel like we’re pretty hard to beat, so. Mkayla had some highlight plays, especially passing balls. I think she finished with 10 assists. Uh, when she’s in, in the rhythm of *** game like that, what’s it do for you guys and what’s it like to watch her be in that sort of? It’s crazy, but when she gets going, she’s pretty much unstoppable, um, just in terms of she can score it if you take away her scoring, she can dime, she really can do it all. So in terms of just the opponent is kinda hard every given night, you know what I’m saying? but to see her get going and then just to find her teammates, you know, *** lot of people can get going, but then. Just get going, you know what I’m saying? She likes to find her teammates even in the midst of her getting going. So, um, yeah, I think it’s just great for her, um, but also just, just *** testament to the teammate she is and just how hard she works. So I know you don’t know your opponent yet for Sunday, but, um, we heard Coach Mulkey, you know, get emotional with Flage and, um, obviously the senior class as *** whole, but how big of ***. Emphasis or what is it to like put on *** show and to like make sure that your senior who’s been there for years like goes out on the right note yeah, um, Fluzzies did so much for this program, even stuff that I can’t even recall, but I just remember just watching her, um, come here and then. Uh, even the thing she most recently did with the K Y’all, um, Foundation, she’s done so much just on the court but also off the court. That’s, that’s just *** tremendous job from her, but I, I hope we get *** lot of fans out here to just support her because like I said, she’s put in so many hours, um, just to this program, so hopefully she can go out with *** bang. Um, how big was that start the game. Yeah, I think, um, Moy expressed to me just having the energy and playing hard is what she really wants regardless of what fouls may come out of it. I think going into the second half I definitely had to be more, um, just I had to be aware of like what fouls I did do and just have body control, discipline, and be able to help my team as much as I can. But coming into it, I think we had *** good, *** good start and we’re able to pick it up and. Keep them from scoring as much in the second half. Um, this team has been on *** historic run when it comes to offensively. Y’all scoring over 100 today, um, ties the NCAA record for most 100 point games of the season. I didn’t even know that. I believe the number that y’all scored tonight, which was 116, is the highest ever in the NCAA tournament game. I just heard that one myself. See the smile. Um, how cool is that on this journey to like be setting history that like somebody else has to chase. Yeah, um, I think the coolest part is that we didn’t even know it, you know, we’re just out there having fun, we’re out there playing together and just trying to get defensive stops, you know, like because we know we can score, but I think being able to break records is something that we, we do here, I mean, it’s the show, you know, so, um, yeah, I’m excited to continue to do it. Record it’s the show. we Put it on *** shirt. How how fun is it playing in this offense? There’s just so many different parts to the offense like uh Z said earlier we have *** lot of depth on our bench, and I think just knowing that we have so many different talents and so many different stars and uprising stars and freshmen who are willing to come off the bench and play hard, I think it makes us special. Um, it makes it fun and easy to score. Or whenever you have so many different parts in post play and guard play and small post play, be able to guard around the perimeter, um, I think it makes an impact for our team for sure. I know that this, um, you don’t know who your opponent is on Sunday yet, but that will be the last game for Fla and other seniors on the team, obviously. How bad do you want to like send her and them out on the right note, at least when it comes to. Yeah, honestly, that’s our goal is just to get our seniors as far as they can for the last goal run because that’s all we’re we’re gonna want when we get there, you know, um, I, I personally just wanna be able to, to get her the ball, you know, get her, um, just the recognition that she deserves and be able to still play together and get *** dub and have her leaving the home game, you know, with smiles and stuff. Uh, definitely *** big, *** big emphasis, but I think that’s all *** testament to how excited we were to play basketball. I think we, it, how long has it been since we played basketball? I, it’s been *** long time, *** couple weeks, and we’ve been practicing so well, practicing so hard, and getting all the, all on the same accord, and I think that was just us putting it all together. In front of y’all, that’s how we’ve been practicing. So, um, y’all scored 116 points. Mm, OK, OK. You scored like 15th game of over 100 points that ties an NCAA for *** season, right? When you hear those numbers, obviously I know y’all have more that you wanna accomplish, but when you hear those numbers and that you, when you know. Being, is that right, obviously it’s pretty cool to be *** part of history and basketball period. Obviously that’s something that as basketball players we want to do, but I think that’s something that we kinda do and kind of put it to the side because at this point of the season it’s do handle our business, then on to the next like we, we’re not even worried about the game that we just played anymore. It’s on to whoever. We’re gonna play next, and I think that’s something that we’ve kind of started to go into, uh, ever since this run started. How fun is it? Like, I think it was 7 players that scored in double figures tonight and different people can get it going in *** given game. How fun is it playing in this offense and with the amount of talent that you have on offense, right? I think that’s what Fly was saying. If you wanna come here. Hoop, come to LSU if you wanna hoop, come to LSU, and I think that’s what everybody did today. Everybody was ready to play basketball. Everybody was excited. They were playing hard. We were playing discipline, and I think that’s just what we showed on the court. And I’m so proud of everybody for coming out, um, locked in. And then obviously you don’t know and Villanova, but we know that it’s last game in the premax. Um, how important is it, you know, one of. and the seniors Right, obviously we gotta send them out with *** bang. She’s given everything and more to this program, and, and we appreciate her more than you could ever imagine, and I think, um, she’s, she’s one of the legends that have come here at LSU, and I think her jersey will be in the rafters and she’ll have *** statue outside. That’s just how much she’s done on and off the court and so obviously as the rest of us, we wanna send her out with *** bang.

By Brett Martel, The Associated Press

Flau’jae Johnson scored 20 points, Mikaylah Williams had 18 points and 10 assists, and No. 2 seed LSU easily surpassed it’s nation-leading scoring average with a 116-58 victory over 15th seed Jacksonville on Friday night in the first round of March Madness.“It was amazing. That’s what we need, and that’s who we are,” Johnson said. “When everybody’s clicking, we’re great.”LSU (28-5), which entered the game averaging 94.5 points per game, scored 100 or more for the 15th time this season, matching an NCAA Division I record set by Long Beach State during the 1986-87 season. The Tigers’ point total also set a school record for an NCAA Tournament game.“The offense is not surprising. We’ve seen that all year,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. “I’ve got a lot of scorers out there.”The Tigers shot 60%, but played some defense, too. They had a season-high 18 steals and finished with a 38-13 advantage in points off of turnovers. LSU outrebounded Jackson 45-21.“We have athleticism, speed, and quickness with certain ones on the floor, but we also have strength,” said Mulkey, a four-time national title winner with a reputation for emphasizing defense and rebounding. “So, get after it.”Jada Richard scored 17 points and four steals, and ZaKiyah Johnson added 16 points for the Tigers, who had seven players score at least 10 points. MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 13 points.Carmaya Bowman scored 14 points and Tatum Brown scored 10 for Jacksonville (24-9), the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament champions, who were making just their second NCAA Tournament appearance.“LSU is a good team, right? Really good team,” Jacksonville coach Special Jennings said. “They’ve been a national championship contender. I just thought we got away from the things that makes us really good.”Priscilla Williams, who was the Dolphins’ leading scorer this season, scored five points in the game’s first eight minutes, but left with an injury and did not return. After the game, her arm was in a sling.Jennings was “not all the way sure” what happened to her top scorer, “but I know that she’s out for a while.”LSU began the game on a 14-0 run highlighted by Williams’ 3-point play on a fast-break layup as she was fouled and her 3-point shot.“We were itching to play basketball,” Williams said. “Everybody was excited. The energy was great.”Flau’jae Johnson’s fast-break basket and free throw made it 21-4 less than five minutes into the game.Bella Hines’ transition 3 made it 27-7 just more than six minutes in and the quarter ended with the Tigers up 34-14.“We were uncharacteristic in the beginning,” .Jacksonville was able to match LSU nearly basket for basket during much of the second quarter, but still couldn’t get within 20 points.The Tigers then closed the period with six straight points, capped by ZaKiyah Johnson’s fast-break layup set up by Williams’ steal near mid court, and LSU led 64-36 at halftime.During the third quarter, Flau’jae Johnson’s 3 ignited a 9-0 run highlighted by Williams’ behind-the-back pass to set up Jada Richard’s fast-break layup.“That’s what she’s capable of,” Johnson said of Williams. “She’s a triple-double type of player. It’s nothing new to me.”That spurt made it 84-46, and it was 94-48 after Richard’s jumper as the period ended.The only question after that was how close the Tigers might get to their season high of 126 point in a game at New Orleans in December.Up nextLSU hosts a second-round game against the winner of Friday night’s matchup between No. 7 seed Texas Tech and 10th seed Villanova.

BATON ROUGE, La. —

Flau’jae Johnson scored 20 points, Mikaylah Williams had 18 points and 10 assists, and No. 2 seed LSU easily surpassed it’s nation-leading scoring average with a 116-58 victory over 15th seed Jacksonville on Friday night in the first round of March Madness.

“It was amazing. That’s what we need, and that’s who we are,” Johnson said. “When everybody’s clicking, we’re great.”

LSU (28-5), which entered the game averaging 94.5 points per game, scored 100 or more for the 15th time this season, matching an NCAA Division I record set by Long Beach State during the 1986-87 season. The Tigers’ point total also set a school record for an NCAA Tournament game.

“The offense is not surprising. We’ve seen that all year,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. “I’ve got a lot of scorers out there.”

The Tigers shot 60%, but played some defense, too. They had a season-high 18 steals and finished with a 38-13 advantage in points off of turnovers. LSU outrebounded Jackson 45-21.

“We have athleticism, speed, and quickness with certain ones on the floor, but we also have strength,” said Mulkey, a four-time national title winner with a reputation for emphasizing defense and rebounding. “So, get after it.”

Jada Richard scored 17 points and four steals, and ZaKiyah Johnson added 16 points for the Tigers, who had seven players score at least 10 points. MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 13 points.

Carmaya Bowman scored 14 points and Tatum Brown scored 10 for Jacksonville (24-9), the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament champions, who were making just their second NCAA Tournament appearance.

“LSU is a good team, right? Really good team,” Jacksonville coach Special Jennings said. “They’ve been a national championship contender. I just thought we got away from the things that makes us really good.”

Priscilla Williams, who was the Dolphins’ leading scorer this season, scored five points in the game’s first eight minutes, but left with an injury and did not return. After the game, her arm was in a sling.

Jennings was “not all the way sure” what happened to her top scorer, “but I know that she’s out for a while.”

LSU began the game on a 14-0 run highlighted by Williams’ 3-point play on a fast-break layup as she was fouled and her 3-point shot.

“We were itching to play basketball,” Williams said. “Everybody was excited. The energy was great.”

Flau’jae Johnson’s fast-break basket and free throw made it 21-4 less than five minutes into the game.

Bella Hines’ transition 3 made it 27-7 just more than six minutes in and the quarter ended with the Tigers up 34-14.

“We were uncharacteristic in the beginning,” .

Jacksonville was able to match LSU nearly basket for basket during much of the second quarter, but still couldn’t get within 20 points.

The Tigers then closed the period with six straight points, capped by ZaKiyah Johnson’s fast-break layup set up by Williams’ steal near mid court, and LSU led 64-36 at halftime.

During the third quarter, Flau’jae Johnson’s 3 ignited a 9-0 run highlighted by Williams’ behind-the-back pass to set up Jada Richard’s fast-break layup.

“That’s what she’s capable of,” Johnson said of Williams. “She’s a triple-double type of player. It’s nothing new to me.”

That spurt made it 84-46, and it was 94-48 after Richard’s jumper as the period ended.

The only question after that was how close the Tigers might get to their season high of 126 point in a game at New Orleans in December.

Up next

LSU hosts a second-round game against the winner of Friday night’s matchup between No. 7 seed Texas Tech and 10th seed Villanova.