By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
LSU coach Kim Mulkey’s women’s basketball got some international reinforcements in its 100-43 win over McNeese State on Tuesday night. Senior forward transfer Noa Morro of Mallorco, Spain, made her LSU debut after starting the season on the bench as she rehabbed from shin surgery.
“I was really excited and so happy to be back,” Morro said after the game. “I prepared with all the staff. They helped me a lot and my teammates. I’m surrounded by people so talented and good people. So that helps me a lot.”
The 6-foot-3, 21-year-old made a splash for the Tigers right away. Mulkey said Morro’s teammates have praised her three-point shooting all off-season, but Tiger fans got their first glimpse of the talented shooter in action against the Cowgirls. In 13 minutes, Morro finished with 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting, all from beyond the arc, and was 3-of-4 on her free throws.
She may shoot more when the No. 9 Tigers (3-0) host Denver (1-3) on Friday (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+).
“Every time she shoots, I expect it to go in, ” senior guard MiLaysia Fulwiley said. “Just to see the crowd kind of cheer her on, see what we’ve been seeing for these past couple of months, it’s great. I know it’s a great feeling for her, because I was excited for her.”
Morro’s night got off to a rocky start, though. She made her first appearance for the Tigers off the bench with 4:50 left in the first quarter. The first three-point attempt of her NCAA career missed its mark, and she recorded one personal foul and a turnover before being subbed out after three minutes – her trainer-prescribed limit for each quarter.
“I thought that’s not going to stop her,” Mulkey said of the miss. “She’s going to shoot it again. That’s what she does.”
Sure enough, when Morro returned to the game midway through the second quarter, it took her just 68 seconds to put up another three. This one found the bottom of the net.
Mulkey said it had been almost six months since Morro saw live action, and she was nervous for her in her first outing. But those nerves calmed quickly. Morro pulled up from three again just two possessions later and came up empty before hitting her second three of the quarter. She concluded her second period stint by taking two trips to the foul line to finish with nine points in the quarter.
“When you hit a couple threes, it’s kind of like riding a bike. You’re always going to know how to do it,” Mulkey said.
Morro knocked down her final three in the fourth quarter and ended the night with four rebounds, one assist and one turnover.
“She shoots it effortlessly. And at that size, I mean, she’s a good 6-3, and it’s good to have her back out there,” Mulkey said.
Morro is in her first NCAA season after most recently playing for Kutxabank Araski in the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto league, the top tier of women’s professional basketball in Spain. She averaged 8.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 26 games, but after five years in various levels of professional basketball overseas, Morro decided to join Mulkey’s LSU squad.
“I wanted a change in my life, like something challenging for me, and I thought that this was the best option,” Morro said. “Coming to LSU, they have a great history and they have a winning mentality. I thought that was my place.”
She has found her place among the Tigers roster offering a unique ability for her size to stretch the floor. That and LSU’s need for quality, experienced play in the post will help ensure she becomes a featured weapon for the Tigers as she gets healthy this season.
LSU’s interior rotation is led by sophomores Grace Knox and ZaKiyah Johnson as the starters so far this season. Sophomore Meghan Yarnevich and freshmen Anna Minaeva and Lola Lampley have rounded out the unit, but Morro’s return gives LSU a dynamic rotation.
“We’ve got enough post players now that you can do some things,” Mulkey said. “You can go big. You can go one big, one small. You can go two smalls and athletic.”
Minaeva gives LSU the most size and physicality in the paint at 6-foot-5. Knox offers rim protection and rebounding as well as athleticism and shooting with her 6-3 frame. Johnson (6-0) and Lampley (6-2) are both converted perimeter players who rely on athleticism and anticipation on the offensive glass, and Yarnevich is a more physical bruiser like Minaeva at 6-0.
Morro offers a unique combination as a perimeter threat and interior force.
“Playing with a big who can shoot, that makes the game easier for us guards because they’re going to have to guard both,” Fulwiley said. “They’re going to have to guard her on her pop, or they have to guard us on our drive. So playing with her, it’s kind of a dream come true for guards. I’m excited to see what Noa does and I’m proud of her for her debut.”
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