Angel Reese leads LSU to win in return from mysterious absence

Angel Reese and the LSU Tigers seemed to put the drama behind them on Thursday night.

Reese dropped 19 points in her first game back after a four-game absence in LSU’s 82-64 win over Virginia Tech. 

It was the women’s basketball star’s first game action on the court since she was benched in the second half of a game against Kent State back on Nov. 14. 

Reese shot 5-for-10 from the field, 9 of 16 from the free-throw line and scored 13 of her 19 points in the second half.

She added nine rebounds as LSU moved to 8-1 with the victory.

Reese’s time away from the team had been shrouded in mystery, with head coach Kim Mulkey providing very few details about the situation other than to say she “is still part of the team.”

Outkick previously reported that Reese had been suspended in order for her to have an “attitude adjustment.”

Reese was welcomed back with open arms as she received a rousing applause from the LSU crowd during the starting lineup introductions. 

She was also honored before the game for recording her 1,000th career rebound earlier this season and hugged Mulkey during the short ceremony. 

Reese’s first point of the game came on her second free-throw attempt 1:02 into the game for LSU’s first point of the night.

The Tigers trailed up until there was 7:13 left in the first half, when a layup by Reese tied the game at 20. 

LSU tied the game two more times before Aneesah Morrow finally gave the Tigers their first lead of the game with 5:09 left in the first half. 

The Tigers finally gave themselves space when they went on an 8-2 run to close out the half.