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GREENVILLE, S.C. – Flau'jae Johnson couldn't hide her emotions. They welled over as LSU's alma mater played while she was locked arm-and-arm with her teammates as the notes wisped through a stunned Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Moments before, LSU women's basketball's star stepped to the free-throw line with 45 seconds remaining with a chance to give her team the lead over South Carolina. Both free throws careened off the rim. The Gamecocks held on for the 79-72 victory over the Tigers on Valentine's Day last month.
She missed the first shot, but Johnson gets another one in the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament semifinals as No. 4 LSU (27-4) meets No. 1 South Carolina (30-2) Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m. CT, ESPN).
MORE LSU WBB COVERAGE LSU hangs 100 on Oklahoma in win at SEC Tournament: Game highlights
After the Tigers dismantled Oklahoma, 112-78, in the quarterfinals inside Bon Secours Wellness Arena Friday, Johnson again let her emotions come out.
"I'm super-excited," Johnson said of the opportunity to face off against the Gamecocks again.
While LSU was already up big in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma, Johnson went on a scoring barrage, posting 10 of LSU's 11 points put up in a 2:23 stretch in the middle of the period.
"When you add the 12 points that she had in the fourth quarter and how she did it, it brings a lot of fire to the crowd, to the team and makes everybody else want to play harder," LSU freshman ZaKiyah Johnson said. "She brings a lot of energy, and her scoring, it gets her confidence up a lot.
"You can see it. It helps us younger players as well."
Flau'jae Johnson had a similar scoring run against South Carolina in the fourth quarter, helping the Tigers claw their way into the game to have a shot at possibly taking the lead late.
Fellow Tiger MiLaysia Fulwiley used to be on the opposing sideline with South Carolina. She has seen Johnson impact games and how stressful she can make things on opponents. Now as her team, she experiences the boost Johnson injects into her team.
"She's tough. I remember her being tough and her having that grit, that motor just to go," Fulwiley said. "She doesn't give up. It's inspiring. It makes everybody else play harder. Being on the same team now, I can see why they have that energy because it starts with her. She's the factor; she makes us go.
"When she's running well and scoring like that, it makes our job easier actually. We're proud of her because she puts a lot of work in. When she thrives, it makes me happy. I'm blessed to be on the same side as her."
Johnson finished with 21 points, three rebounds and three assists in the win over the Sooners.
"I saw an all-around game," LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. "I saw her confidence grow after she hit a couple of perimeter shots. Then when she did that, she mixed it up more. She kept driving in the paint to try to create. She got a taste of, 'OK, I got this.'"
Confidence will matter for Johnson and LSU when it takes the court against the Gamecocks in the SEC Tournament semifinals Saturday. But for Johnson, those emotions that welled up after the loss to South Carolina earlier this season have taught her more.
And it's why her and the team's stellar performance versus Oklahoma means nothing.
"Really, you've got to let it know. South Carolina is a different team," Johnson said. "I've learned you've got to keep your head up, and you've got to look forward. Ball it up, good or bad, and let it go.
"You always get another opportunity."
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU star Flau'jae Johnson 'excited' about South Carolina game
Continue reading...
Moments before, LSU women's basketball's star stepped to the free-throw line with 45 seconds remaining with a chance to give her team the lead over South Carolina. Both free throws careened off the rim. The Gamecocks held on for the 79-72 victory over the Tigers on Valentine's Day last month.
She missed the first shot, but Johnson gets another one in the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament semifinals as No. 4 LSU (27-4) meets No. 1 South Carolina (30-2) Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m. CT, ESPN).
MORE LSU WBB COVERAGE LSU hangs 100 on Oklahoma in win at SEC Tournament: Game highlights
After the Tigers dismantled Oklahoma, 112-78, in the quarterfinals inside Bon Secours Wellness Arena Friday, Johnson again let her emotions come out.
"I'm super-excited," Johnson said of the opportunity to face off against the Gamecocks again.
While LSU was already up big in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma, Johnson went on a scoring barrage, posting 10 of LSU's 11 points put up in a 2:23 stretch in the middle of the period.
"When you add the 12 points that she had in the fourth quarter and how she did it, it brings a lot of fire to the crowd, to the team and makes everybody else want to play harder," LSU freshman ZaKiyah Johnson said. "She brings a lot of energy, and her scoring, it gets her confidence up a lot.
"You can see it. It helps us younger players as well."
Flau'jae Johnson had a similar scoring run against South Carolina in the fourth quarter, helping the Tigers claw their way into the game to have a shot at possibly taking the lead late.
Fellow Tiger MiLaysia Fulwiley used to be on the opposing sideline with South Carolina. She has seen Johnson impact games and how stressful she can make things on opponents. Now as her team, she experiences the boost Johnson injects into her team.
"She's tough. I remember her being tough and her having that grit, that motor just to go," Fulwiley said. "She doesn't give up. It's inspiring. It makes everybody else play harder. Being on the same team now, I can see why they have that energy because it starts with her. She's the factor; she makes us go.
"When she's running well and scoring like that, it makes our job easier actually. We're proud of her because she puts a lot of work in. When she thrives, it makes me happy. I'm blessed to be on the same side as her."
Johnson finished with 21 points, three rebounds and three assists in the win over the Sooners.
"I saw an all-around game," LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. "I saw her confidence grow after she hit a couple of perimeter shots. Then when she did that, she mixed it up more. She kept driving in the paint to try to create. She got a taste of, 'OK, I got this.'"
Confidence will matter for Johnson and LSU when it takes the court against the Gamecocks in the SEC Tournament semifinals Saturday. But for Johnson, those emotions that welled up after the loss to South Carolina earlier this season have taught her more.
And it's why her and the team's stellar performance versus Oklahoma means nothing.
"Really, you've got to let it know. South Carolina is a different team," Johnson said. "I've learned you've got to keep your head up, and you've got to look forward. Ball it up, good or bad, and let it go.
"You always get another opportunity."
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU star Flau'jae Johnson 'excited' about South Carolina game
Continue reading...
