Defending champion LSU pulls away from UCLA in fourth quarter to reach Elite 8

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Flau’jae Johnson, the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year, delivered one of her best performances of the season Saturday when her team needed her most. 

Johnson's team-best 24 points helped the defending national champion LSU Tigers pull away from the second-seeded UCLA Bruins for a 78-69 win in the Sweet 16. Angel Reese finished the game with 16 points and 11 rebounds to record her 26th double-double of the season. 

LSU trailed 67-64 with 2:46 remaining in the fourth quarter but went on a 14-2 run to close out the game.

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LSU guard Last-Tear Poa (13) and forward Angel Reese (10) react with teammates during the third quarter of a Sweet 16 game against UCLA during the NCAA Tournament Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Albany, N.Y.  (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

LSU will play in the Elite Eight for a second consecutive season and will face Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes. LSU defeated Iowa in last season's national championship game.

LSU led by seven points at halftime. But after making just two of their first 20 shots from 3-point range, the Bruins hit four of their next five.

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Consecutive 3-pointers from Londynn Jones keyed an 11-2 run that gave UCLA the lead at 45-44, and the teams were tied at 48 headed into the fourth quarter.

Johnson had two early 3-pointers in the first half. Her spinning baseline drive and layup highlighted an 8-0 LSU spurt that put the Tigers up 25-18.

Aneesah Morrow (24), Flau'jae Johnson (4) and Angel Reese (10) of the LSU Tigers attempt to block a shot from