Thursday night was a night full of celebration in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, as LSU women’s basketball came away with a 112-55 win over Queens University of Charlotte.
The Tigers started the night with the 2023 National Championship ring and banner ceremony before the game. LSU President, William Tate, and Athletic Director, Scott Woodward, gave the seven returning players, coaches and support staff their rings.
Shortly after, both the Final Four and National Championship banners were revealed from the PMAC rafters for Tiger fans to see.
“I thought those in charge at LSU couldn’t have done any better,” Mulkey said. “It’s only appropriate that it [the banner] goes above the student section. This is their school, their team. They’ve helped us so much.”
But this season’s LSU team still had a job to do, and they were able to cap off a great night for the program by getting it done.
Angel Reese and Sa’Myah Smith controlled the paint, accounting for 49 of LSU’s 112 points on the night. Reese finished with another double-double, her second of the season, with 28 points and 14 rebounds. Smith finished with 21 points and eight rebounds. She scored 10 points in the second half alone.
“We did have the size advantage tonight and the strength advantage tonight,” Reese said. “We had to respond tonight. It was important for us to respond tonight, and I think we responded.”
Along with Reese and Smith, Kim Mulkey continued experimenting and seeing who her best options are. She came into Thursday’s matchup with a different starting lineup from Monday’s loss to Colorado. Smith started in place of Aneesah Morrow.
Morrow, however, still produced off the bench. She finished the game with 16 points, also scoring 10 in the second half. Flau’jae Johnson also added 13 points along with six rebounds and two assists.
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Mikaylah Williams cooled down a bit after her 17-point performance in her collegiate debut on Monday against Colorado. The true freshman added nine points against Queens. Janae Kent, another true freshman, added seven points as well.
For Queens, however, the Royals put up a good fight in a game where they were heavy underdogs. Nicole Gwynn impressed early, as she knocked down four three-pointers in the first quarter alone.
She finished with 26 points on the night, including eight made three-pointers. In fact, Queens shot 41.7% as a team from behind the three-point line.
“I’m just overall super happy that I got the chance to play against them [LSU],” Gwynn said. “I just wanted to play. To me it’s just another game.”
Mulkey and her team can consider Thursday’s win the first step in the right direction after Monday night’s 92-78 loss to Colorado.
While the competition wasn’t what it was on Monday night, all the Tigers got in the game, and 10 players played in the first half. When it comes to depth, Mulkey is making the most of it.
“I am so focused on defense right now. I’m challenging some of them like they’ve never been challenged in their life,” Mulkey said. “It’s just got to be that way.”
With this being said, Mulkey seems open to anything. On Monday night, she said, “I thought this lady [Mikaylah Williams] and Sa’Myah Smith gave it all they had,” so effort could be a tiebreaker when talent is also there.
Mulkey and her Tigers will continue experimenting to identify themselves as a team on Sunday against Mississippi Valley State. The game will tip-off at 2 p.m. C.T. from the PMAC and will be televised live on SEC Network-plus.
