Angel Reese returns after a ‘long two weeks away,’ scoring 19 points in LSU’s victory.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Angel Reese of LSU smiled as she entered the postgame news conference Thursday night, her first game in more than two weeks.

“How happy are y’all to see me?” she asked reporters.

Reese started and had 19 points and nine rebounds in No. 7 LSU’s 82-64 victory over No. 9 Virginia Tech on Thursday night, her first start since being benched on Nov. 14. Reese and coach Kim Mulkey hugged on the sideline after the game.

Reese last appeared for the Tigers (8-1) in their 109-79 victory over Kent State in their fourth game of the season. Mulkey had missed four straight games and had repeatedly refused to explain her absence.

Reese said after Thursday’s win that it felt “great” to be back on the court, but she did not explain her absence.

“It was a long two weeks to be away from the team,” she told reporters. “I’m just happy to be back and this place was amazing tonight.”

Reese got off to a slow start in the first quarter, shooting 1-of-4 from the field and 2-of-6 from the free throw line. She was, however, active on the glass, grabbing five rebounds, four of which were offensive. She shot 5-of-10 from the field and 9-of-16 from the free throw line in the game.

Reese was the second LSU player to emerge from the locker room for pregame warmups. She jogged out of the tunnel, pausing to embrace stadium worker Doretha Bond.

“I told her, ‘Walk by faith, not by sight,'” Bond went on to say.

Before the game, Reese was recognized for reaching the 1,000-rebound career milestone, which she accomplished on Nov. 9 against Queens University at home. Fans at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center applauded as Reese walked out to center court. Mulkey tossed the ball into the air for her to catch.

The atmosphere on LSU’s home court was exuberant and raucous. Students waited in the rain for hours to get the best seats in the student section. Some fans arrived as early as 1:45 p.m. for the 8 p.m. start time.

Mulkey now has 700 career victories after her victory on Thursday. She became the first woman to be named head coach in either men’s or women’s basketball.

Reese slung her arm around junior Aneesah Morrow as they approached the student section, both wearing purple “Kim Mulkey 700” shirts. They paraded through, getting high-fives along the way.

“Angel is one of the best players I’ve ever coached,” said Mulkey. “I’m just pleased. I’m pleased with how she handled herself. She’s returned to the Angel everyone knows.”

Mikaylah Williams led the Tigers with 20 points. Morrow finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double. Georgia Amoore had 25 points and Elizabeth Kitley had 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead Virginia Tech (5-2).

The game was a rematch of last year’s Final Four, which LSU won en route to its first national championship.