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The LSU Tigers dominated the Southeastern Lions 129-35 on opening night. LSU has now won 3 consecutive season openers.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
ZaKiyah Johnson won the jump ball and raced down the court but missed her first layup of the game. She made up for it shortly after, drawing a foul following a rebound and knocking down her first two free-throw attempts of the game.
An 18-point LSU run followed Johnson’s first two points. Southeastern finally stopped the run when Dian Szakolczi hit one of her two free-throw attempts.
The Tigers were scoring in bunches, as MiLaysia Fulwiley, Mikaylah Williams, and Grace Knox all put up multiple points from all over the court. LSU closed out the first quarter on a 19-1 run, taking a commanding 37-4 lead over Southeastern after one quarter of action.
Right out of the gate to start the second quarter, Williams knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner to keep the scoring blitz going.
The defense continued to shut the door on the Lions in the second quarter. Contested shots and bad looks led to Southeastern shooting just 3-for-21 in the first half, a lowly 14% from the field.
LSU held a 60-point advantage heading into halftime, leading 69-9.
As a team, the Tigers shot 62% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc while scoring 34 points in the paint. Defensively, LSU recorded 15 steals and five blocks. Southeastern simply couldn’t compete.
Williams really shined in the first half, scoring 16 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the floor, including a perfect 4-for-4 from deep.
Early in the third quarter, Knox went on a run of six straight points and added five rebounds in the process. She was a huge presence in the paint for Coach Kim Mulkey and the Tigers all night.
Chloe Larry brought the Tigers to the century mark with a layup right at the buzzer to end the third quarter, giving LSU a 100-25 lead over Southeastern.
Not much changed in the fourth quarter other than the Tigers’ point total. LSU outscored Southeastern 29-10 in the final period, cruising to a 129-35 victory. The 94-point margin of victory marked the largest in LSU women’s basketball history.
BIG NUMBER: 72
The Tigers put up 72 points in the paint in this one. With 31 offensive rebounds, and 45 second chance points. LSU dominated the game in the interior.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Zakiyah Johnson
Johnson was incredible on opening night. She finished with 33 points, shot 14-of-19 from the field, and had 13 rebounds on 29 minutes of play.
UP NEXT: The LSU women’s basketball team will be back in action this Thursday, November 5th, at home against Texas Southern. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 P.M. at the PMAC and airing on Mustang 107.1.
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