LSU superstar Angel Reese drops 19 points and nine rebounds in return vs. Virginia Tech after mysterious four-game absence over ‘locker room issues’

LSU superstar Angel Reese has dropped 19 points and nine rebounds in her return to the team’s starting lineup in a 64-82 win against Virginia Tech, after her mysterious four game-absence over ‘locker room issues.’

The 21-year-old forward, nicknamed the ‘Bayou Barbie’, also had two assists to give Tigers coach Kim Mulkey her 700th victory. The two were spotted sharing a long hug after Thursday night’s game. 

Mulkey has, so far, declined to go into detail over Reese’s two-week absence ahead of her milestone victory. 

Reese’s comeback couldn’t have come at a better time for LSU (8-1), which narrowly outlasted Virginia in the Cayman Islands on Saturday without its No. 10, and fellow power forward Sa’Myah Smith, who went out for the season with a knee injury during a victory over Niagara last Friday. 

Reese and forward Aneesah Morrow helped LSU control the paint and limit the production of Virginia Tech star center Elizabeth Kitley in a rematch of a Final Four game in last season’s NCAA Tournament. LSU went on to win the national title. 

Reese gave her head coach Kim Mulkey her 700th career win on Thursday night in Louisiana  

Morrow had 19 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks and three steals, and LSU outrebounded Virginia Tech 43-29. Flau’Jae Johnson scored 13 points for the Tigers, who’ve won eight straight since dropping their season opener.

Georgia Amoore scored 25 points for Virginia Tech (5-2), which trailed by double digits much of the second half. Kitley had 16 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

This offseason, LSU added two high-profile transfers – Morrow from DePaul and Hailey Van Lith from Louisville – along with Williams, a coveted recruit. And the rematch with the Hokies in the ACC/SEC Challenge went more decisively to the Tigers after a sluggish start.

LSU looked out of synch early and Tech took advantage, going up by as many as nine point when Matilda Ekh hit a 3 to make it 18-9.

However, Morrow’s basket late in the opening quarter began a 9-0 LSU run capped by Reese’s layup, which tied the game at 20.

The Tigers led by as many as eight in the second period. Williams made it 35-27 before Kitley’s free throws made it 35-29 at halftime.

Up next for the LSU Tigers, is a home game against Louisiana-Lafayette on December 10.