Utah’s Alissa Pili (35) fights for control of the basketball with LSU’s Kateri Poole (55) during the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game of the women’s NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. Mic Smith, AP
Jay Drew
By Jay Drew
Jay has covered sports in Utah for more than 30 years and has been writing for the Deseret News since 2019.

Utah’s run in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament came to a sudden end Friday as No. 3 seed LSU held off the Utes 66-63 in a wild Sweet 16 game in Greenville, South Carolina.

Alexis Morris made four free throws in the final 10 seconds to lift the Tigers into an Elite 8 matchup with Miami on Sunday.

Utah overcame an eight point deficit in the final four minutes and took a 63-61 lead with one minute, nine seconds remaining on two free throws by Issy Palmer.

However, Utah’s Jenna Johnson missed two free throws with 4.7 seconds left that would have given the Utes the lead.

Gianna Kneepkens scored nine straight points to bring the Utes back with four minutes remaining after Utah trailed 60-52 with 3:43 left.

The Utes had a chance to tie at the buzzer, by Dasia Young’s desperation 3-pointer wasn’t close.

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LSU's Kateri Poole (55) drives against Utah's Jenna Johnson and Dasia Young (34) during the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the women's NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, AP
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Utah's Jenna Johnson (22) puts her arm against the face of LSU's Angel Reese (10) during the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the women's NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, AP
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Utah's Alissa Pili (35) fights for control of the basketball with LSU's LaDazhia Williams (0) in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game of the NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, Associated Press
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Utah's Jenna Johnson holds back tears and is comforted by coach Lynne Roberts, after missing two free throws late in the second half against LSU in a Sweet 16 college basketball game of the women's NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. LSU won. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, AP
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Utah's Jenna Johnson (22) is comforted by head coach Lynne Roberts, right, after missing two free throws that could have tied or put the team in the lead late in the second half against LSU during a Sweet 16 college basketball game of the NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, AP
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LSU's Angel Reese (10) celebrates the team's win over Utah in a Sweet 16 college basketball game of the women's NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, AP
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LSU's Angel Reese, at right, hugs teammate Alexis Morris, left, after defeating Utah in a Sweet 16 college basketball game of the NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, AP
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Utah's Dasia Young falls tio the floor as LSU's Alexis Morris (45) dribbles the ball in the background during the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game of the women's NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, AP
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LSU coach Kim Mulkey argues a call during during the second half of the team's Sweet 16 college basketball game against Utah in the women's NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, AP
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LSU football coach Brain Kelly, front center, stands with fans after LSU defeated Utah in a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the women's NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, AP
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Utah's Dasia Young (34) is defended by LSU's LaDazhia Williams (0) and Sa'Myah Smith (5) during the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the women's NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, AP
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LSU fans celebrate as players leave the court after defeating Utah in a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the women's NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) | Mic Smith, AP
View Comments

Here are 3 keys to Utah’s heartbreaking loss: 

• Gianna Kneepkens led the Utes with 20 points on 6 of 16 shooting and Issy Palmer added 15, but leading scorer Alissa Pili struggled and had just 14 points and eventually fouled out.

• The Utes stayed in it by shooting 8 of 22 from 3-point range and holding the Tigers to just three 3-pointers.

• Utah finished with 16 turnovers and gave up too many second-chance points as LSU turned 12 offensive rebounds into 13 second-chance points.

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