Tag: Flau’Jae Johnson

LSU women’s basketball avoids upset, beats Murray State

LSU women’s basketball was tested on Friday night, but Mulkey’s crew got the win

Despite trailing by nine points at halftime, LSU women’s basketball recovered and defeated Murray State 74-60 in Friday’s game.

The Tigers held the Racers to 14 second half points after being outscored 32-12 in the second quarter.

LSU moves to 4-0 on the young season, though this was its first real test of the season after three blowout victories where they won by over 50 points.

[autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] finished with 25 points, 10 of which were scored in the fourth quarter. She has double-digit point lines in LSU’s first four games. The guard added seven rebounds and five assists.

[autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] also finished in double-figures with  15 and 10 points, respectively. Morrow pulled down 14 rebounds to turn in her third double-double of the season.

Both teams turned the ball over 15 or more times. LSU recovered from an abysmal showing in the second frame where it shot 23.53% from the field. The Tigers shot over 50% in the second half.

LSU next game is Monday at home against Troy.

LSU women’s basketball adds another five-star recruit to 2025 class

Kim Mulkey and LSU are gearing up to land the top class in the country after adding another five-star on Wednesday

Kim Mulkey is one of the top recruiters in women’s college basketball and she proved it again on Wednesday, adding another five-star to LSU’s loaded 2025 class.

Forward Grace Knox, from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, announced her pledge to LSU.

ESPN ranks Knox as the No. 6 overall player in the class, giving LSU four five-star recruits in its 2025 class. Knox joins Zakiyah Johnson, Divine Bourrage, and Bella Hines.

Knox announced the commitment with a post on social media.

LSU now has three of the top 12 players in the 247Sports rankings and the class has a good chance to finish as the nation’s best.

Mulkey and staff continue to amass talent, giving LSU sticking power near the top of the sport. The Tigers are up there with the sport’s elite programs now and LSU recruits from a national pool of players.

Knox told On3’s Talia Goodman that she was drawn to Mulkey’s straightforward coaching style.

“I feel like Kim Mulkey will push me to a different level,” Knox said, “She’s controversial to some people, but the way she coaches, I’m OK with that.”

When the class arrives on campus, Mulkey should have her most talented group yet, especially if [autotag]Flau’jae Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag] are still around.

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LSU women’s hoops dominates again in final exhibition game

The Tigers wrapped up their exhibition schedule with a 117-37 win on Wednesday night.

Two exhibition games down, and the LSU women’s basketball team looks to be in tip-top shape entering the season. Once again, it wasn’t even close as the Tigers dispatched an overmatched NAIA opponent in LSU-Alexandria, winning 117-37.

It was another big game for star junior guard [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag], who led the team with 29 points. Transfer [autotag]Kailyn Gilbert[/autotag] was another standout, finishing second behind Johnson with 26 points.

Six Tigers scored in double figures with Johnson and Gilbert joined by [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] (15 points), [autotag]Jada Richard[/autotag] (14), [autotag]Sa’Myah Smith[/autotag] (12) and [autotag]Aalyah Del Rosario[/autotag] (10 points). Smith, returning from a season-ending injury last year, also notched a double-double with 10 rebounds.

LSU shot a stunning 67.7% from the field in this game, including 5 of 9 on three-point attempts, while holding the Generals to 22.8% shooting and forcing 25 turnovers.

With a pair of tuneup exhibitions under their belt, the Tigers are ready to begin the regular season on Monday night with a contest against Eastern Kentucky.

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Flau’Jae Johnson named to preseason watch list for several women’s basketball national awards

Flau’Jae Johnson is expected to have a big year for the Tigers.

It’s the beginning of a new era of sorts for the LSU women’s basketball program.

While it loses [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag], the biggest star from the deep tournament runs the last two seasons, and will rely on a veteran-heavy transfer class, it also returns some key contributors. [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag], who had a breakout season as a sophomore last year, is chief among them.

Johnson, along with teammate [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag], is the preseason Co-SEC Player of the Year. She has now been named to multiple watch lists for postseason awards.

On Monday, Johnson was named to the watch list for the Naismith Trophy, given to the top player in the nation, and on Tuesday, she also made the cut for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, which is given to the top shooting guard.

In the first exhibition of the season against Xavier (New Orleans), Johnson paced the team with 30 points and 10 rebounds in a double-double outing. The Tigers face LSU-Alexandria in another exhibition on Thursday before beginning the regular season against Eastern Kentucky on Monday.

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LSU women’s basketball rolls in exhibition opener against Xavier (New Orleans)

The Tigers’ new-look roster took the court together for the first time in an exhibition win on Thursday night at the PMAC.

The 2024-25 LSU women’s basketball team took the court for the first time on Thursday night in an exhibition matchup against Xavier (New Orleans) at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, and it was an impressive debut.

The Tigers rolled against the NAIA opponent, beating the Gold Nuggets 114-53.

It was a huge game for junior star [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag], whose 30-point, 10-rebound double-double paced the team. [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] also recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds of her own.

LSU’s newcomers made a solid first impression as well, with three of them scoring in double figures. Transfers [autotag]Jersey Wolfenbarger[/autotag] and [autotag]Mjracle Sheppard[/autotag] each scored 12 points, while [autotag]Jada Richard[/autotag], the top player in Louisiana and most highly touted member of LSU’s 2024 signing class, scored 14 points in her first appearance with the purple and gold.

The Tigers shot 58.2% from the field in a prolific offensive performance, including a 6 of 13 mark from three-point range, where LSU struggled last season. The defense impressed against a lower-division opponent, holding Xavier to 34% shooting while forcing 33 turnovers that resulted in a whopping 47 points for LSU going the other way.

It was the kind of showing the Tigers wanted to see in the exhibition, and they’ll look for a similar result when they host LSU-Alexandria next Wednesday. Coach Kim Mulkey’s team opens the regular season against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 4.

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LSU women’s basketball picked to finish 3rd in SEC by coaches, 3 Tigers on preseason all-conference team

It’s expected to be another successful season for LSU women’s basketball in 2024-25.

The LSU women’s basketball team is ready to hit the ground running on what should be another successful season in Year 4 under coach [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag].

After capturing a national title in Year 2, the Tigers made it to the Elite Eight again last season and are looking to make another deep run with a roster that loses [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] but returns a lot of production elsewhere while adding a veteran transfer class.

The Tigers were picked to finish third in the SEC by the coaches, behind defending national champion South Carolina and Texas. Additionally, three players were named to the preseason All-SEC teams.

[autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag], the top two returning starters from last season, garnered First Team All-SEC honors while [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag], a true freshman standout from last year’s squad, was named to the second team.

Here’s the full predicted order of finish and preseason All-SEC teams from the league’s coaches.

Order of Finish

  1. South Carolina
  2. Texas
  3. LSU
  4. Oklahoma
  5. Alabama
  6. Ole Miss
  7. Tennessee
  8. Kentucky
  9. Auburn
  10. Mississippi State
  11. Texas A&M
  12. Vanderbilt
  13. Georgia
  14. Florida
  15. Missouri
  16. Arkansas

Player of the Year

Madison Booker, Texas

First Team All-SEC

Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama

Georgia Amoore, Kentucky

Flau’Jae Johnson, LSU

Aneesah Morrow, LSU

Madison Scott, Ole Miss

Raegan Beers, Oklahoma

Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina

Madison Booker, Texas

Second Team All-SEC

Aaliyah Nye, Alabama

Mikaylah Williams, LSU

Jerkaila Jordan, Mississippi State

Skylar Vann, Oklahoma

MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina

Raven Johnson, South Carolina

Rori Harmon, Texas

Aicha Coulibaly, Texas A&M

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How to watch LSU women’s basketball’s 1st exhibition against Xavier (New Orleans) on Thursday night

The Tigers are set to begin the 2024-25 campaign with an exhibition against Xavier (New Orleans) on Thursday night.

After a long offseason, the preseason No. 7 LSU women’s basketball team is finally set to return to the court for its first exhibition of the season on Thursday night as it welcomes Xavier (New Orleans) to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Both this exhibition and next Wednesday’s against LSU-Alexandria will be free to attend for fans.

It will be a new-look LSU roster in many ways after adding an experienced transfer class featuring players like [autotag]Mjracle Sheppard[/autotag] and [autotag]Shayeann Day-Wilson[/autotag], but it also returns some familiar faces like [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] and [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag], who all starred on last year’s team.

[autotag]Jada Richard[/autotag], the top high school prospect in the state of Louisiana and a top-100 recruit nationally, also joins the fold and will make her debut in the purple and gold on Thursday night.

Xavier is an NAIA opponent coming off a 25-7 season that featured a first-round exit in the NAIA tournament. The Gold Nuggets were picked to finish second in the Red River Athletic Conference.

Here’s what you need to know to watch as the 2024-25 LSU women’s basketball team takes the floor for the first time on Thursday night.

How to Watch

  • Date: October 24, 2024
  • Time: 7 p.m. CT
  • Place: Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge
  • Stream: SEC Nework+ [afflinkbutton text=”Watch LSU vs. Xavier (New Orleans) live on ESPN+” link=”https://go.web.plus.espn.com/Vmrv2O”]
  • Radio: LSU Sports Radio Network

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LSU women’s basketball cracks the top 10 in preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

The Tigers are gearing up for what they hope will be another deep run in Year 4 under coach Kim Mulkey.

The LSU women’s basketball program is gearing up for what is expected to be another successful season despite losing [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag], one of the biggest stars in the sport, to the WNBA draft.

The Tigers return key starters [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] as well as standout sophomore [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag], and they also add a veteran-heavy transfer class as they look to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

The preseason polls are high on coach Kim Mulkey’s team. LSU ranks seventh in the preseason AP Top 25, and it comes in at No. 7 in the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, which was released on Thursday, as well.

The Tigers are joined in the top 10 by three other SEC teams: South Carolina (No. 1), Texas (No. 4) and Oklahoma (No. 12). Ole Miss (No. 20), Kentucky (No. 22) and Alabama (No. 24) are also all ranked while Vanderbilt and Tennessee received votes.

Here’s the full coaches poll as we prepare for the start of the 2024-25 season, which tips off for LSU on Thursday night with an exhibition against Xavier (New Orleans). The Tigers will face LSU-Alexandria in another exhibition on Wednesday night before beginning the regular season against Eastern Kentucky on Monday, Nov. 4.

Preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Rank School (Last Year’s Record) Points First Place Votes
1 South Carolina (38-0) 770 27
2 Connecticut (33-6) 734 3
3 Southern California (29-6) 716 1
4 Texas (33-5) 670 –
5 Notre Dame (28-7) 629 –
6 UCLA (27-7) 612 –
7 LSU (31-6) 567 –
8 North Carolina State (31-7) 533 –
9 Iowa State (21-12) 487 –
10 Oklahoma (23-10) 457 –
11 Duke (22-12) 449 –
12 Baylor (26-8) 434 –
13 Kansas State (26-8) 407 –
14 Ohio State (26-6) 405 –
15 West Virginia (25-8) 285 –
16 North Carolina (20-13) 263 –
17 Louisville (24-10) 261 –
18 Maryland (19-14) 254 –
19 Florida State (23-11) 177 –
20 Creighton (26-6) 150 –
21 Mississippi (24-9) 135 –
22 Kentucky (12-20) 106 –
23 Nebraska (23-12) 92 –
24 Indiana (26-6) 75 –
25 Alabama (24-10) 57 –

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LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow named preseason Co-SEC Players of the Year

Despite losing Angel Reese to the WNBA, LSU has no shortage of star power in 2024-25.

Despite losing star forward [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] to the WNBA draft, the LSU women’s basketball team is gearing up for what should be another special season in Year 4 under coach [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag].

The Tigers enter the year ranked No. 7 in the preseason AP Top 25, and they have several players who received preseason accolades from the SEC media. LSU’s top returning stars in [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] were named preseason Co-SEC Players of the Year ahead of what should be a big season for both.

Unsurprisingly, they were each named First Team All-SEC preseason selections. [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag], who impressed as a true freshman last season, is a preseason Second Team All-SEC selection.

The Tigers reached the Elite Eight last season where it fell in a rematch against the Iowa team it beat to win a national championship the prior year. LSU will hope Mulkey’s team is set for another deep run next spring.

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LSU women’s basketball a top-10 team in preseason AP Top 25

The Tigers enter Kim Mulkey’s fourth season with high expectations yet again.

The 2024-25 season will be a year of change for the LSU women’s basketball team.

The Tigers lost star [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag], who had a fantastic rookie season in the WNBA. [autotag]Hailey Van Lith[/autotag] also opted to move on in the transfer portal.

But it’s another talented roster headlined by returning stars [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag], and it’s bolstered by an impressive transfer class filled with veteran, experienced players.

There’s still a lot of optimism around Kim Mulkey’s team, and the Tigers open the year ranked No. 7 in the preseason AP Top 25. They’re one of seven ranked SEC teams and the third highest behind No. 1 South Carolina — the defending national champion — and No. 4 Texas.

In total, there are four SEC teams ranked in the top 10.

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