LSU couldn’t defend Auburn’s sixth man on Sunday.
While Auburn’s fans didn’t score any points or record any turnovers, they might as well have, as they were a swing factor in giving LSU its second loss of the season by a score of 67-62.
The Neville Arena was packed with fans on Sunday afternoon to see the defending national champion LSU Tigers. While many LSU fans made the trip, home-court advantage deemed itself superior. In fact, Neville Arena set a record of 7,720 fans in attendance.
Honesty Scott-Grayson led Auburn with 21 points and five rebounds. She shot nine for 21 from the field. But she was just one of two Auburn players to score in double figures.
JaMya Mingo-Young scored 13 points along with five assists, and she came away with a key turnover to secure the win for Auburn. Kaitlyn Duhon was right behind her with eight points.
For LSU, it resorted to its leader, Angel Reese. Unfortunately, her 24 points, 11 rebounds and eight of 12 shots made from the free throw line wasn’t enough.
Aneesah Morrow recorded her 11th double-double of the season in the loss, as she finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Flau’jae Johnson also scored in double figures with 12 points, and four of six from the free throw line.
Auburn eliminated LSU’s three-point shot, as the team only attempted two shots from behind the arc. Mikaylah Williams attempted one three ball, but her inability to get a shot off from three restricted her from making an impact in the game. She finished with seven points, five assists and three rebounds.
Hailey Van Lith’s three-point shot was also eliminated, as she also attempted just one shot from behind the arc. She finished with three points. But LSU’s weakness made itself known in its second loss of the season: lack of depth.
Six LSU players played 20 minutes or more in the game, and eight players appeared in the game. On the other hand, Auburn had 13 players appear in the game, and all 13 played 10 minutes or more.
As SEC play continues and becomes more difficult, Kim Mulkey will have to experiment with her bench, allowing them to potentially find more confidence to fill in key roles, and she will have to have her starters be able to adapt more efficiently when a part of their game is controlled.
The lack of three-point shooting and lack of depth proved to cost LSU, but it says a lot about what the team can be for how close it still was. It proved just how much these weaknesses are holding the team back.
Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, it was a back and forth battle until the very end.
LSU had an easy time opening SEC play with three-straight double-digit wins, but the timing of the loss to Auburn may serve LSU well. It could very well serve as a reminder that conference play will not be a breeze, and there are tougher battles to come down the line.
Mulkey and her Tigers will head back to the state of Alabama on Thursday to take on the Crimson Tide. The matchup will tip-off at 8 p.m. C.T. from Coleman Coliseum on the campus of the University of Alabama, and will be televised on the SEC Network.
