Tonie Morgan hit a three-pointer with less than a second to play as No. 11 Kentucky upset fifth-ranked LSU 80-78 on Thursday night inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge.
LSU had taken the lead with three made free throws with 18 seconds left. But on Kentucky’s final possession, the Cats ran the clock down before Morgan rose up from the left wing and made her third three-pointer of the game.
Morgan had an amazing game, scoring a season-high 24 points, handing out 12 assists, grabbing three rebounds and committing no turnovers in 39 minutes of action.
Asia Boone had a big game off the bench for the Cats. She hit five threes on her way to 18 points. Teonni Key had 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, while Clara Strack battled through foul trouble to score 15 points and grab nine rebounds.
Kentucky (14-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and had 18 second-chance points, compared to just four for the Tigers.
LSU (14-1, 0-1) scored the first five points of the game before Morgan scored to make it 5-2. LSU would score nine in a row before a Boone three cut the LSU lead to 14-5. After another Tigers’ bucket, Strack scored and LSU led 17-7. Another Boone three got the Cats within seven.
Key scored in the lane, Morgan made a layup, Jordan Obi scored underneath and Strack hit a long two to close out a 13-0 run that gave UK an 18-17 lead. LSU would make two free throws before Obi scored again to give the Cats a 20-19 advantage. LSU scored again before a Morgan free throw tied the game at 21-21. Morgan hit another free throw to give UK a one-point lead but LSU scored at the buzzer to lead 23-22 after one quarter.
Strack scored the first basket of the second period and later added a free throw to give UK a 25-23 lead. After LSU tied the game, Key scored, then Boone hit another triple to make it 30-25. However, the Tigers would score the next nine to lead 34-30. Strack scored to cut the deficit to two, but LSU answered right back to lead by four.
Key converted a three-point play to make it 36-35 with 3:34 left in the half. LSU made three free throws to lead by four before Obi scored at the basket to get UK within two. Key converted a layup to tie the game at 39-39. LSU took the lead back, but two Morgan free throws tied the game at 41-41, which would be the halftime score.
LSU scored the first four points of the third quarter before Key scored to make it 45-43. After the Tigers scored, Morgan made a layup to get UK within two. The teams would trade baskets again, with Boone scoring for the Cats, to make it 49-47. Then, Morgan made a three to give the Cats a 50-49 advantage. The lead was short-lived as LSU scored the next 10 points to lead 59-50.
Boone hit her fourth three of the game to stop the run, but LSU scored to go up by eight. Morgan then drained a three to get the Cats within five, 61-56. A Key basket cut the LSU lead to three, but LSU responded with another bucket. Key would score underneath again but the Tigers scored the final points of the period to lead 65-60 after three periods.
The Tigers scored first in the fourth quarter but Strack responded with a basket of her own to cut the deficit to 67-62. After LSU scored, Morgan got the Cats back within five. The Tigers scored again before Boone hit another three and Morgan hit a free throw to make it 71-68. LSU would hit two free throws to lead by five before a Boone free throw cut the deficit to 73-69, but LSU scored again to lead by six.
Key made a layup then Strack hit two free throws to make it 75-73 with 2:58 to play. And when Morgan made two free throws, the game was tied with 2:10 remaining.
Kentucky would take the lead with 1:18 left when Strack scored on a fadeaway. However, LSU was fouled shooting a three and made all three free throws with 18 seconds to play, taking a one-point lead. That set the stage for Morgan’s heroics at the end.
The Cats return to action on Sunday, hosting Missouri inside Historic Memorial Coliseum. Tipoff is set for noon ET and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.
