LSU women’s basketball overcame another slow start to take down Albany 83-61 to close out nonconference play unbeaten.
The Tigers led in rebounding 53-21, including a 23-8 edge on the offensive end. As a result, they scored 30 second chance points compared to three from the Great Danes. LSU also scored in transition, leading 23-2 in the category.
Aneesah Morrow turned in her 13th double-double of the season, scoring double-digit points and rebounds in the fourth quarter alone. She finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds. Flau’Jae Johnson flirted with a double-double as she posted 15 points and nine rebounds. Mikaylah Williams and Jersey Wolfenbarger also finished in double figures with 18 and 11 points, respectively.
The Tigers faced a deficit at the end of the first quarter and halftime. They were 0-8 from three-point range in the first half and allowed Albany to shoot 50% from the field. The Great Danes shot 60% in the first quarter and forced LSU into seven turnovers.
LSU gained the edge three minutes into the third frame thanks to an 8-0 run, highlighted by four straight points from Kaitlyn Gilbert. The Tigers shot 58.8% from the field in the fourth and outscored the Great Danes 27-7 to solidify the win.
Despite going 1-13 from beyond the arc, LSU limited its turnovers to three after the first quarter and held off a tough two-loss Albany team to end its nonconference slate at 15-0.
Here is what head coach Kim Mulkey had to say at the postgame press conference.
On the Defense
Albany spread the floor with its smaller lineup and gave LSU defensive troubles in the first half. The Tigers are no strangers to slow starts, and Mulkey hopes her squad will adhere to her team-focused defensive approach with conference play looming.
“That takes time, and a lot of coaches will bail out and start playing zone. It takes a lot of effort to teach man to man because you’ve got to do it every day from start to finish.”
“It’s going to take pride on the defensive end to beat anybody we’re not supposed to beat. It’s going to take a great defensive effort because this game, you’re not going to shoot it good every night. You’ve got to win with defense and win with rebounding.”
Turnovers and slow start
“I can pick out of every ball game concerns. That’s who I am, that’s what I do.
“We’re 15-0, let’s remember that.”
“We’re not going to be the type of team that blows people out. We’ve got too many new pieces. We’ve rules that have now changed. The longer we play together, the better we will get. The better teams we play, the better we will get, and we will see better teams in the SEC.”
“We could’ve started out and jumped on them 40-0, and I’d still have concerns. I don’t like it. I don’t think any coach wants to get behind, but you kind of test your character a bit when things don’t go to suit you.”
Fourth Quarter Surge
“I thought, defensively, we were more disciplined. We didn’t jump and run and give up straight-line drives. We didn’t cover down and leave people open for a three.”
“We talked better in the fourth quarter. We communicated better. We switched better. I thought when we did that, it gave us a little bit more energy, and we’d head to the other end and try to create something in the open floor.”
Morrow’s Performance
Despite early foul trouble and unfavorable scores in the first half, Morrow led her team to another victory. She notched a double-double in all but two of LSU’s games in 2024. Mulkey compared Morrow to Nina Davis, who she coached at Baylor. She emphasized getting to know a player’s work ethic beyond their recruiting profile.
“I’ve been blessed to coach some of the overachievers that maybe were just given the eye test and were great players.”
“Rebounding is not always the tallest, the most physical. You’ve got to have a knack for where that ball is coming off.”
“You’ve got to watch young people, and you’ve got to see what their heart tells you and how hard they play. She just plays like you want your kid to play. She just plays hard.”
“[Morrow] didn’t get as many touches early because she got in foul trouble. As an athlete, you’re frustrated, but what I tell ball players is, ‘If you don’t think you’re getting enough touches, then rebound.’ And that’s what she does. She went and got rebounds and steals.”