2023 Cayman Islands Classic - Women's

LSU WBB Beats Niagara At 2023 Cayman Islands Classic Without Angel Reese

LSU WBB Beats Niagara At 2023 Cayman Islands Classic Without Angel Reese

Angel Reese was not with the LSU Women's Basketball Team on Friday at the Cayman Islands Classic as the Tigers dominated Niagara.

Nov 24, 2023 by Joe Harrington
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No Angel Reese, no problem for the No.7 LSU Women's Basketball team (6-1) at the Cayman Islands Classic.

The defending NCAA Tournament Champions made quick work against the overmatched Purple Eagles (2-3) in its first game at the Cayman Islands Classic with a 99-65 win. 

But it wasn't all good news for the Tigers. Already missing Reese, one of the stars of the college game this season and a returning All-American, LSU saw Sa'Myah Smith go down with an injury in the first quarter. She didn't return to the game. 

With three players missing, another All-American, Hailey Van Lith (20 points) and Reese's replacement in the starting lineup, Aneesah Morrow (28 points) paced the Tigers. Star LSU freshman Mikaylah Williams added 19. 

Angel Reese Misses Another Game For LSU

Reese didn't practice with the Tigers On Nov. 24 and wasn't with the team against Niagara. ESPN reported that it's believed that Reese didn't travel to the George Town for the tournament. 

LSU coach Kim Mulkey has not said why Reese has missed the last three games. 

LSU Women's Basketball Lineup Without Angel Reese

With Reese out, the Tigers have started: 

  • Sa'Myah Smith, F
  • Aneesah Morrow, F
  • Flau'jae Johnson, G
  • Hailey Van Lith, G
  • Mikaylah Williams, G

Morrow entered the starting five for LSU without Reese and has averaged 13.3 points this season. In the two games she started, Morrow scored 17 points against Texas Southern and 10 against Southeastern Louisiana. 

Nov 24-25, 2023, 4:00 PM UTC

2023 Cayman Islands Classic - Women's

Was Angel Reese Suspended?

Hall of Fame coach Kim Mulkey never said Reese was suspended. Following the Tigers’ 106-47 win over Texas Southern, Mulkey alluded to the team dealing with locker room issues. 

“You always have to deal with locker room issues," Mulkey said in a postgame conference. "Sometimes you don't know about it. Sometimes you want to know more than you're entitled to know. I'm going to protect my players, always. They are more important."

She added that she would not reveal whether Reese would even make the trip to the Cayman Islands. 

Reese, however, made the trip but it’s unclear if she will play in either game let alone start. 

Mulkey did sound like Reese would be back at some point. After the Tigers' 73-50 win over Southeast Louisiana, she told the reporter, “Angel is a part of this basketball team, and we hope to see her sooner than later.”

What Angel Reese Said About Her Absence?

Reese hasn’t officially made any statement but did post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Nov. 19 not to believe everything you read.

please don’t believe everything you read.

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) November 19, 2023

Angel Reese Led LSU WBB To 2023 NCAA Championship

Angel Reese was the leader of the LSU team in 2023 and was the 2023 Final Four Most Outstanding Player as well as the 2023 BET Sportswomen of the Year and 2023 ESPY Best Breakthrough Athlete. 

Reese, who played two years at Maryland before transferring to LSU, averaged  17 points per game for the Tigers last season. 

LSU Women's Basketball Roster Depth, Talent Showing While Angel Reese Absent 

The Tigers were ranked No.1 in the preseason for a reason. Not just Reese, but because of another win in the transfer portal and a talented freshman class. 

The national champions added star Hailey Van Lith from the transfer portal. Van Lith, a 2020 McDonald's All-American, was the catalyst for Louisville's 2022 Final Four team and entered the year with 1,553 career points. 

She is averaging 11.8 points and 4.6 assists per game. 

Carrying LSU, though, has been freshman Mikaylah Williams, who has started all six games for LSU, joining Van Lith as the only player to do so. Williams is averaging 19.2 points per game along with 3.5 rebounds. She is shooting 56.6% from 3-point range. 

There are a total of six players averaging double figures for LSU, including Reese. 

LSU Lady Tigers Basketball Schedule at Women's Cayman Island Classic

LSU faces Niagara at 1:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 24. LSU then plays Virginia at 5 p.m. on Nov. 25. 

Women's Cayman Island Classic Teams

The teams are (ranking based on the Nov. 13 poll): 

  • No. 7 LSU 
  • No. 8 UConn
  • No. 3 UCLA
  • No. 9 Virginia Tech 
  • Kansas 
  • Virginia 
  • Niagara
  • Tulane

Women's Cayman Island Classic Schedule

Here is the Nov. 24 schedule:

  • Virgina 81, Tulane 59
  • LSU 99, Niagara 65
  • No. 9 Virginia Tech vs, Kansas, 5 p.m. ET
  • No. 8 UConn vs. No. 3 UCLA, 7:30 p.m. ET

Here is the Nov. 25 schedule: 

  • No. 9 Virginia Tech vs. Tulane, 11 a.m. ET
  • No. 3 UCLA vs. Niagara, 1:30 p.m. ET
  • No. 7 LSU vs. Virginia, 5 p.m. ET
  • No. 8 UConn vs. Kansas, 7:30 p.m. ET

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