[ad_1]
ALBANY, N.Y. — Flau’jae Johnson ran to the LSU bench, throwing her fist towards her chest and shouting in celebration along with her teammates.
Standing at simply 5’9”, she’d simply deflected a shot try from 6’4” UCLA ahead Angela Dugalić within the closing seconds of the fourth quarter to all however seal the Tigers’ win and a berth within the Elite Eight. However that wasn’t her solely large second of the sport.
With simply over a minute and a half to go within the sport with LSU main 68-67, Johnson was on UCLA star guard Kiki Rice. Preventing by way of a display as Rice drove to the basket, Johnson stayed along with her and obtained a hand on the ball earlier than it met the rim and even drew the cost — a deflating second for the Bruins.
Angel Reese threw her arms round Johnson instantly afterward in an embrace. It was Johnson’s 24 factors and 12 rebounds that helped get the Tigers over the road, notably when Reese fouled out of the sport minutes later.
LSU will now face Iowa on Monday evening for a spot within the Girls’s Remaining 4 in Cleveland on April 5.
Johnson has taken a little bit of a leap in her second 12 months with LSU after bursting onto the scene as a freshman throughout final season’s run to the NCAA title. Virtually all of her averages have risen as a sophomore, notably as a scorer. She averages 14.7 factors per sport whereas taking pictures 39.5% from lengthy vary.
The scoring was essential towards the Bruins, however her work on the glass was maybe extra so. Reese mentioned after their Candy 16 sport that the crew went into Saturday with a mantra of “no rebounds, no rings,” and Johnson completed with a crew main 12 boards, which she let Reese learn about afterward.
“We nonetheless obtained out-rebounded, however as a crew and our guards did an excellent job tonight rebounding,” Reese mentioned.
“Yeah, I had extra rebounds than Angel,” Johnson replied.
“Only one! Only one,” Reese exclaimed.
Johnson performs the sport along with her coronary heart on her sleeve, celebrating buckets with teammates and followers and getting much more excited when her teammates make a giant play. When Reese obtained an and-1 to go within the second half, Johnson leapt immediately into the air off each toes. The second displayed her athletic hops, but additionally the kind of ardour and vitality she brings to the court docket.
Requested about Johnson after the sport, head coach Kim Mulkey emphasised the enjoyment she brings on the ground and her work ethic behind the scenes as a basketball participant and rapper.
“While you hear her discuss, she simply has that pleasure about her,” Mulkey mentioned. “She has no agendas. She will get little or no sleep. That child might be up at 5:00 each morning writing stuff for her profession and goes to class and involves apply and works out.”
Heading out of a timeout with the sport all however in hand, Johnson went over to a big Tigers’ fan part within the enviornment and held her hand to her ear. She needed to listen to extra, and it’s removed from the primary time she’s pumped up a crowd.
She’s been rapping since she was seven years outdated, in keeping with the New York Instances, having introduced her dedication to the Tigers alongside the discharge of a brand new tune.
Her musical inspiration comes from her late father, Jason Johnson, a rapper recognized by the stage identify Camoflauge, who was fatally shot in 2003, months earlier than the delivery of his daughter. His stage identify is the supply of Johnson’s first identify.
She’s taken some criticism for doing each basketball and rap on the identical time, being instructed to “get within the health club” relatively than file or carry out. She launched a brand new tune titled “AMF” (Ain’t My Fault) simply earlier than LSU’s first spherical sport.
On the court docket proper after the Tigers win over UCLA interview cameras and ESPN’s Holly Rowe surrounded Johnson. The interview was memorable, however her persona and spirit was plain.
“On a regular basis I’m within the health club placing in reps, daily,” Johnson mentioned. “I do know individuals are gonna discredit me trigger I rap and I hoop, so I do know I’ve gotta go additional arduous. In order that’s what I do.”
Rowe talked about the brand new single and the way immediately’s win was her fault. In response, Johnson smiled and raised her arms as much as either side.
“It’s our fault! It’s our fault!”
“Individuals are going to discredit me as a result of I rap and I hoop, so I do know I obtained to go additional arduous.” “She does rap, her new single is ‘It Ain’t My Fault,’ however immediately, this win was your fault.” “It’s our fault!” Nice postgame interview of Flau’jae Johnson from Holly Rowe. pic.twitter.com/6GpOxPq9uf
— Terrible Asserting (@awfulannouncing) March 30, 2024
Later, sitting within the postgame press convention with teammates and Mulkey, Johnson was requested if this was the most effective sport of her profession and had a fast reply.
“No. I’ve performed higher video games. I really feel like my entire life, I’ve been hooping a complete very long time. That is only a greater stage for me, and simply give all of the glory to God and dealing. That’s it.”
[ad_2]
