LSU women’s basketball got off to a 1-0 start in SEC play on Thursday night, beating Arkansas 98-64.
It was a comfortable win for an LSU team with some close calls this year. LSU made nine three-pointers, its second-best mark of the year. That was needed after LSU went 1-13 from deep its last time out.
Kailyn Gilbert led the way for LSU with 16 points in just 18 minutes. She was joined by an efficient performance from fellow guard Last-Tear Poa, who scored nine points while shooting 3/4 from behind the arch.
Flau’Jae Johnson scored 15, while forward Aneesah Morrow notched another double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Next up for LSU is a home meeting with Auburn on Sunday before a ranked showdown with No. 15 Tennessee next week. The games are starting to matter, and the race to the NCAA tournament is beginning to heat up.
Here’s everything head coach Kim Mulkey said following LSU’s win.
What the program means to the sport and the state
“We have created something that’s very, very good in women’s basketball at LSU. And when we go on the road to see fans that are really not LSU fans, but they’re somehow, someway, attracted to a player on our team or our team, its appreciated,” Mulkey said.
“We want to help grow the game.”
Defending Izzy Higginbottom
LSU was tasked with defending the SEC’s leading scorer in Izzy Higginbottom. She got hers, scoring 27 points.
“She’s a fantastic player,” Mulkey said, “She got her average in three. She made one three, which is about what she averages. I thought we did a good job on her when the game started with our starters. I thought we got fatigued with our bench, and she started getting some points. We really did focus on her. We wanted to take away layups from her, and I don’t think she got a whole heck of a lot of layups.”
Mulkey said Higginbottom is tough to double with how much she touches the ball. LSU’s goal was to prevent Higginbottom from getting lay-ups or getting to the free-throw line.
On LSU’s depth
“If you look at minutes played, we had a lot of production from a lot of people. You know what you’re going to get with Morrow, Johnson, and Williams, and those kids can average 20 a night. But I didn’t have to play them, but 22, 24, 25 minutes,” Mulkey said.
“When you can do that, it prepares you for the next game.”
“I thought we were productive everywhere. I thought everybody looked to score the ball. Yeah, it was a good night for us.”
Getting off to a good start in SEC play
“It’s always good to win on the road. You win on the road, and you beat people you’re supposed to beat, upset people every now and then that you’re not supposed to beat. Try to get a top-four seed, play at home in the playoffs, and keep building this program. And we get to go home now and play an Auburn that’s probably prime to play good because I think they lost tonight at home.”
On the starting lineup
“When I was a player, starting was a big deal, but as you become a coach, you don’t start your five best players. And I always tell them you wanna be in the rotation of eight or nine players.”
“I don’t get caught up in that five. You know the main three, Flau’Jae, Williams, and Morrow. And then after that, it could be anybody.”