Wednesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center was LSU’s last chance to tune up its flaws before the start of the regular season. However, there wasn’t a ton of fixing needed.
It was an offensive track meet for LSU, as they took care of Loyola University New Orleans 121-36.
Against East Texas Baptist in LSU’s first exhibition game, Kim Mulkey went with an all-newcomer starting lineup. However, against Loyola, she went with a more opening-game-like lineup with Hailey Van Lith, Flau’jae Johnson, Angel Reese, Aneesah Morrow and true freshman, Mikaylah Williams.
Four of those five starters were almost a sure thing, but that fifth spot seemed to be up for grabs. After Thursday night, Williams may have locked herself in the starting lineup.
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Williams led the team with 20 points, including four made three-pointers. She also added three rebounds and three assists.
“She [Williams] can score the ball, she can hit the three, she can score the midrange shot,” Mulkey said. “She’s just talented.”
Williams led the Tigers in the prowl in which six players scored in double figures. Flau’jae Johnson was dominant right out the gate for LSU, as she finished with 15 points and went two for two from behind the three-point line. In the first quarter alone, she had 13 points, and Loyola ended with 12 in the opening quarter.
“I thought Flau’jae shot the ball confidently. She’s a competitor,” Mulkey said. “I go back to her freshman year at this time, and I remember how much she improved in a year. I expect the same type of improvement. I don’t think we’ve seen the best from her yet.”
True freshman Aalyah Del Rosario, also impressed. She finished the game with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Morrow recorded a double-double in 11 points and 12 rebounds, marking her first double-double performance of the season. Reese was close to having one of her own with 10 points and nine rebounds. Van Lith also scored in double figures with 13 points along with five assists.
Alissa O’Dell led Loyola with seven points.
This season’s LSU team has much more depth than last season, and Mulkey is using every bit of that depth. Whether it’s because it’s just an exhibition game or not, Mulkey would often run a starting rotation, and then substitute all the starters a quarter later with a completely fresh slate.
Regardless of the competition they’re playing against, Mulkey is showing she has several options off the bench she’s confident in.
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The team’s regular season starts on Monday, and it’ll be on a big stage. The top-ranked Tigers will head to Las Vegas for a matchup against No. 20 Colorado as a part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Series. The game will tip-off at 6:30 p.m. C.T. from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will be televised live on TNT.
“Everyone’s hungry, and you kind of stick out if you’re not,” LSU guard Kateri Poole said. “We all have the same goal.”