Can Angel Reese Return to LSU’s Starting Five After Hailey Van Lith, Flau’jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow Takeover?

After a bunch of successful games, Angel Reese’s absence from LSU’s starting lineup has become a significant topic of discussion. The All-American forward’s presence has indeed made an elevating difference to the team, making her absence certainly noticeable.

Angel Reese led the LSU Lady Tigers and won the 2023 NCAA National Championship, their first title, by defeating Iowa Hawkeyes 102-85. In that final matchup, her performance directed everyone’s attention toward women’s basketball and gained popularity, especially towards the WNBA.

Hailey Van Lith, Flau’jae Johnson, and Aneesah Morrow taking the reigns

Although Angel has been MISSING for quite a while from LSU’s starting lineup. However, other Lady Tigers have stepped up to fill that void. Notably, LSU’s current starting lineup reads – Flau’jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow, Sa’Myah Smith, Hailey Van Lith, and Mikaylah Williams.

Waiting until Angel returns to the court, meanwhile, let’s talk about the other Lady Tigers stepping up in their game. The LSU guard Hailey Van Lith excels in scoring rather than handing out assists. Evidently, her scoring stats have taken a leap from 11.2 points to 19.7 points.

However, Angel’s absence has broadened her gameplay as she is playing the conventional point guard, eventually honing her skills. Moreover, with an increase in her turnover average from 1.7 points to 3.7 points, some critics say that she would improve even if she played in the capacity of a 2 guard.

Swiftly moving on to Aneesah Morrow, another LSU player who has been making notable contributions to the team. Last season, she was one of the only two players in the nation who were listed top 5 in scoring and top 10 in rebounding.

Now, Flau’jae Johnson, the LSU guard led her team in the season’s first game with 17 points and 11 rebounds, instantly becoming LSU’s key player in Angel’s absence.

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With these key players on the court, LSU is not going anywhere. Surely they are holding the fort and leading LSU to new heights.

LSU’s victories in Angel Reese’s absence

The Lady Tigers have recently been entering the court without their star. Despite that shortcoming, they have been delivering scores and locking wins for the team. LSU’s first matchup of the season was against Texas Southern. They won with a score of 106-47, most notably due to Flau’jae Johnson making a significant 17-point contribution.

In the next one, LSU vs. Southern Louisiana, the Tigers thrashed the opponent with a 73-50 score. Most recently, the Lady Tigers faced off against Virginia Tech as Aneesah put on an impressive display, getting a close 76-73 win for the LSU.

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Now, with these players making the winning dribble, Angel will be having a generous helping when she returns to the court.