Morrow scores 19, grabs 13 rebounds in homecoming as No. 5 LSU beats Illinois Chicago 91-73
LSU's Aneesah Morrow (24), battles UIC's Keimari Rimmer for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Chicago. Credit: AP/Paul Beaty
CHICAGO — Aneesah Morrow had 19 points and 13 rebounds playing in her hometown, and No. 5 LSU beat Illinois Chicago 91-73 on Thursday night.
Flau’Jae Johnson added 23 points and 11 boards, and Mikaylah Williams chipped in with 17 points and seven assists. LSU (14-0) pulled away from UIC (2-6) in the third quarter, scoring 12 straight to break open an eight-point game.
Morrow had quite a day, with her No. 24 being retired at Simeon Career Academy, the same school where former NBA MVP Derrick Rose starred. The 6-foot-1 forward then established herself for two years at DePaul before transferring prior to last season to compete for national championships.
The nation's leading rebounder, Morrow got a warm reception with at least 40 family members in the crowd of 4,322 — the largest ever for a women's basketball game at UIC. She missed six of her first seven shots, but finished 8 of 16 from the field.
Arin Freeman led UIC with 19 points, and Makiyah Williams scored 15.
Takeaways
LSU: The Tigers again showed why they are one of the nation's best teams, even if it took them awhile to put away the pesky Flames.
UIC: The Flames can take some comfort in hanging with the No. 5 Tigers for more than a half.
LSU's Sa' Myah Smith (5), goes up to shoot against Illinois-Chicago's Makiyah Williams (23), and Arin Freeman, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Chicago. Credit: AP/Paul Beaty
Key moment
Last-Tear Poa drove for a three-point play to start LSU's 12-0 run in the third quarter. Johnson scored six in that stretch, including a tip-in that made it 53-33 with just under six minutes left in the quarter.
Key stat
LSU dominated 28-10 in points off turnovers and outrebounded UIC 40-29.
Up next
LSU hosts Albany on Dec. 29 before opening SEC play at Arkansas four days later. UIC hosts Ohio on Sunday.
