LSU WBB: The Latest on All-American Forward Angel Reese

LSU All-American forward Angel Reese has been the topic of conversation over the last handful of days after missing Friday night's game against Southeastern.

Now, as the Tigers gear up for a Monday night game against Texas Southern, all signs point towards Reese missing a second consecutive game.

The latest on Reese, a potential return date and what's next:

The Buzz: Reese Absent on Friday Against Southeastern

Kim Mulkey addressed All-American forward Angel Reese's status on Friday night after the Tigers defeated Southeastern 73-50.

Reese, a reigning National Champion, was benched in the second half against Kent State last Tuesday before being absent for Friday night's contest in Hammond.

When asked to expand on her decision Friday night, Mulkey said:

"Angel was not in uniform. Angel is a part of this basketball team, and we hope she's back with the team soon. I'm not gonna answer any more than that."

Now, after being away from the program for Friday night's contest in Hammond, Mulkey "cleared the air" surrounding her star big.

Reese has been in the limelight over the last handful of months after taking home the National Championship. Once the Tigers took home hardware, it boosted Reese's status off the court significantly.

“She just understands the spotlight is on her,” Mulkey told Taylor Rooks ahead of the Colorado game. “I don’t think she realized how quickly it came in how hard it came at her. But as I tell her, to whom much is given much as expected. You brought this, you earned this. You wanted this, now grow up and lead us and she wants to continue to get better in her game. She wants to continue to get better with her leadership.

“But it’s not the Angel Reese show. We have some pretty good talent in that locker room with her.”

A Potential Return Date: Virginia Tech on Nov. 30

The Tigers leave this week for their trip to the Cayman Islands for their tournament over Thanksgiving break and all signs point towards Reese not making the trip.

The Tigers will lace up their shoes on Friday, Nov. 24 against Niagara in the Cayman Island Classic followed by a showdown against Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 25.

After the trip, LSU is off until their Final Four rematch against Virginia Tech on Nov. 30. For now, all signs point towards a *potential* return against the Hokies, but things could change before then.

News: #LSU All-American forward Angel Reese is not with the team while they gear up for a matchup against SELU.

Reese didn’t see the court in the second half against Kent State on Tues. in what Kim Mulkey called a “coach’s decision” after the game.

Reese is not in the building. pic.twitter.com/hRqBbMsuNT
— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) November 18, 2023

Up Next: Texas Southern on Monday, Nov. 20

LSU will be in the PMAC on Monday night at 7 p.m. CT to host Texas Southern.

The game will stream on the SEC Network + with Lyn Rollins and Victor Howell. Patrick Wright and Shaeeta Williams will call the game on the LSU Sports Radio Network, 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge.

Monday will be LSU’s final game before the team heads to the Cayman Island Classic over Thanksgiving break with games on Friday and Saturday later in the week.

LSU shot a season-low 41.3-percent from the field Friday night at Southeastern, but the Tigers outrebounded the Lady Lions by 16 and won the points in the paint battle, 34-18. LSU was also 17-20 from the free throw line to Southeastern’s 5-9.

“When your shot’s not falling just do something else,” Coach Kim Mulkey said Friday after the game. “And they do. They rebound and battle in there.”

Flau’Jae Johnson has been a sparkplug off the bench the past two games for the Tigers after missing the game last Sunday with flu-like symptoms. On Friday night at Southeastern she recorder her first double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds to go with 4 steals and 3 assists.

“Flau’Jae is just such an improved player from when we got her this time last year on understanding defensive principals,” Coach Mulkey said. “She’s got length. She’s got size on the perimeter.”

Aneesah Morrow has also been settling in, now five games in at LSU. She has scored in double figures in the past four games and had the first double-double of her season at Southeastern with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Morrow has been effective on both the offensive and defensive ends as she is averaging 3.2 steals (No. 4 in SEC).

Mikaylah Williams has played at an elite level five games into her collegiate career. The freshman scored 42 points on Tuesday, an NCAA era LSU freshman record. She is averaging 20.2 points per game which ranks No. 2 in the SEC and has scored efficiently, making 58.1-percent of her shots which is tied for the sixth best in the SEC; Williams has attempted 13 more shots than any of the other players in the SEC that rank in the top-15 in field goal percentage.

Vernette Skeete leads the Texas Southern program in her second year as the head coach. Micah Gray was the SWAC Freshman of the Year last season, a bright spot through the Tigers’ 2-27 campaign. TSU enters Monday’s game with a 1-2 record, coming off a loss at Old Dominion.