GREENVILLE, S.C.—LSU coach Kim Mulkey has confirmed that senior forward Aneesah Morrow will be back in action for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. This news comes after Morrow had to leave the court during the third quarter of Saturday’s narrow 56-49 defeat to top-seeded Texas in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament due to an injury. The injury occurred as Morrow stepped on an opponent’s foot. Mulkey also assured fans that Flau’Jae Johnson, the team’s leading scorer, who missed the tournament to recover from a shin injury, will be ready to play as the ninth-ranked Tigers (28-5) head into the NCAA Tournament.
During a press conference at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Mulkey explained that Morrow had aggravated a mid-foot sprain, an injury initially sustained during a previous encounter with Texas on February 16. To manage the injury, Morrow wore a protective boot when not at practice. She was also seen on the LSU bench wearing the boot in the fourth quarter. “She’s good to go,” Mulkey stated. “Despite everything, she was eager to return to the game, but the medical staff prioritized her long-term health.” Mulkey emphasized her confidence in Morrow’s availability for the tournament, stating, “She can go for the tournament. Everything is good.”
Mulkey appeared determined to avoid any concerns that could impact the team’s seeding for the NCAA Tournament. She seemed focused on conveying that key players will be available, given that the NCAA Tournament committee sometimes adjusts a team’s seeding based on players’ availability. “I know the NCAA might think, ‘Oh, they don’t have…,'” Mulkey remarked, “but we have everyone ready.”
Morrow’s injury became apparent when she made a move toward the basket while LSU was trailing by five points early in the third quarter and accidentally stepped on Texas forward Taylor Jones’s foot, falling to the floor. Trainers attended to Morrow for several minutes before she was assisted off the court, unable to bear weight on the injured foot at first.
Despite the setback, Morrow had an outstanding performance in the tournament. She set a school SEC Tournament record by scoring 36 points in LSU’s 101-87 victory over Florida in the quarterfinals. Going into Saturday’s game, she averaged 18.7 points and 14 rebounds per game for the Tigers. LSU, holding the No. 3 seed position, is aiming to capture the national championship.
