Former LSU Tigers forward and current Chicago Sky stalwart Angel Reese once shot down any doubts about her collegiate team after they lost out on a title. On March 10, 2024, Reese and the rest of coach Kim Mulkey‘s LSU Tigers took on coach Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks in the 2024 SEC tournament championship game in what ended up becoming an all-out affair between the conference rivals.
Unfortunately for Reese and the 2023-24 Tigers, they lost the winner-take-all matchup by a mere five points, 77-72. The game also saw an on-court scuffle between the two programs in the dying minutes. During the post-game press conference, Reese was asked if she’s ever been part of such an affair. She may have never been a part of one, but stressed how LSU will not back down.
“No, I’ve never been a part of a game like that, but of course, you know, two heavy hitters that we going to battle. We not scared of them, they not scared of us. We came in and know what we had, they came and know what they had, and it turned up and went ways that we didn’t want it to go, but I’m proud of this team. We fought, we fought, we fought with five, maybe six healthy players, if that,” Reese said (0:40).
“Just know we’re not scared, and we’re at a place right now that I’m proud of and I’m happy to where we are right now,” she added.
Reese and company made it all the way to the Elite Eight of that year’s national tournament. They were hunting for their second straight NCAA title after winning in 2023, but were eliminated by their non-conference rivals, Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes, 94-87. LSU finished the year with an overall record of 31-6 (13-3 SEC).
Read More: “We’re Not Best Friends, by Any Means”: When Caitlin Clark Set the Record Straight on Her Rivalry With Angel Reese
When Angel Reese Doubled Down On How The LSU Tigers Are Not Scared Of Their SEC Rivals
The LSU Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks have been hailed by many as two of the premier women’s college basketball destinations for any aspirant in recent years.
With both programs being in the same conference, they have become arch-rivals. This is a fact that Angel Reese fully accepted as she asserted during the aforementioned post-game presser that her team is not fearful of the Gamecocks.
“We not going to make that an excuse, and we’re not scared of South Carolina. I’m going to repeat that, we’re not scared of South Carolina. And, a lot of people are scared of them, and we came in and battled and battled and battled and battled and battled to the end. Of course, we came up short. But, we’ll see them again, or whoever will see them again. But, I’m just happy and I’m going to acknowledge my teammates first,” Reese shared (1:25).
Also Read: “How Many Rebounds Tho?” “Iconic”: Fans React As Angel Reese Dons Pink Lingerie During First Victoria Secret Runaway Walk
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