This time a year ago, LSU played UCLA in the Sweet 16.
The Tigers came out on top, winning 78-69 in a back-and-forth battle that lasted all four quarters. But with LSU up by two and a little more than a minute and a half on the clock, UCLA had the opportunity to tie or take the lead.
Bruins’ guard Kiki Rice drove to the basket, but she was met by then-sophomore Flau’Jae Johnson who swatted the ball and kept it inbounds to maintain possession and maintain a two-point lead.
On the next possession for the Tigers, they turned their best player, Angel Reese. Reese was, however, met by UCLA forward Lauren Betts, who blocked her shot. The loose ball again ended up in Johnson’s hands.
With 49 seconds left in the game and seven seconds on the shot clock, Johnson had to cook up something that would put LSU in a prime position late in the game.
Johnson drove right, and Betts was waiting to meet her under the basket. She avoided Betts and scooped in a layup to put LSU up by four with 44 seconds remaining, and that sealed the victory.
There was one thing in common in those last stretch of plays, and it was Johnson. It was fitting that she had the clutch block and layup at the end of the game, because she was doing it all night long.
Johnson finished the game with 25 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks while shooting 7-for-11 (63.6%) from the field.
Johnson will have the chance for another game-changing performance against the Bruins in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
The Bruins come into the game as the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and are led by star center Betts who is averaging 20.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks this season while shooting 65.4% from the field.
In her game against the Tigers last year, Betts didn’t necessarily play her best game offensively, only scoring 14 points, but she still totaled 17 rebounds, including five of them being offensive rebounds and four blocks.
The reason for her down offensive game was that she was being guarded by Reese, a physical player and great defender, which made it difficult for Betts to establish her position and get the ball.
However, if you haven’t already heard, Reese is no longer on the team and now plays in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky.
While the Tigers do still have Aneesah Morrow and the addition of Sa’Myah Smith, who missed the tournament last year due to a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus, they’re not as physical compared to Reese.
Morrow and Smith have never let their size or physicality slow them down. Both of them have been having tremendous games in the tournament, but they’ll have their hands full on both ends of the court with Betts.
Someone else is going to have to step up, as the interior is once again going to be clogged with Betts in the paint, and that someone else is Johnson.
Looking back at last year’s game, Morrow and Reese played well. Morrow scored 17 points, shooting 7-for-11 (63.6%) from the field, and Reese had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
But there was a need for another presence outside, someone who could create their shot and also attack downhill, and Johnson was doing it.
In LSU’s 80-73 victory against NC State in the Sweet 16, Johnson played 30 minutes, only scoring 3 points and shooting 1-for-8 (12.5%) from the field.
Despite her low-scoring performance, LSU prevailed, and the Tigers have faith that Johnson is going to play like the First Team All-SEC player that she is.
“Today’s a new day, and she’s got that smile on her face and that joyful spirit that makes her Flau’Jae,” Coach Mulkey said in the preview press conference on Saturday.
Although the Tigers fell short of the Final Four last year, losing to No. 1 Iowa 94-87, Johnson led the team in points, scoring 23 points while shooting 10-for-18 (55%) from the field.
It’s only a matter of time before Johnson has another big game in March and proves why she’s ready for the moment.