Coming off a top-five showdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks, in which LSU women’s basketball fell short, losing 66-56, the Tigers looked to bounce back and get back into the win column against Texas A&M.

The Tigers got the job done, winning 64-51 in an unexpectedly tight game against the Aggies.

It was not a pretty start for the purple and gold. Foul trouble and poor shooting allowed the Tigers to have a five-point lead heading into halftime.

Four LSU players, including three starters, had two fouls by halftime, and 10 players each had a foul in the foul column by the end of the game. However impactful foul trouble may have been, the Tigers simply couldn’t put the ball in the hoop.

LSU shot a combined 12-41 from the field for a shooting percentage of 29%. The 3-point shooting was worse, as the Tigers shot 9% from the 3-point line. 

The Aggies shot a better percentage in the first, but they were in the same boat. Texas A&M shot 32% from the field and 22% from three but still trailed. Even for a team that is 10-8 going on the road to play against a top-five team in the country, it wasn’t a death sentence.

LSU’s slight lead heading into halftime was thanks to Aneesah Morrow and Flau’Jae Johnson, who had 10 and eight points, respectively, but freshman guard Jada Richard also added a much-needed spark to the offense. 

“We just believe in her to be able to make decisions, even as a freshman,” Johnson said. “I’m just so glad that she got those minutes and she was able to do what she does.”

The four-star and top-100 prospect from Opelousas, Louisiana, scored seven points while shooting 50% from the field in her 17 minutes of play in the first half. The Tigers only had five different players score in the first half, and Richard was one of them.

“I just need to do whatever to help my team as a freshman,” Richard said. “It’s kind of hard finding your role, but I’ve always been a leader, so just kind of trying to lead the players in the game, and as well as whoever else came in the game.”

The scoring remained the same in the second half as both teams scored less than 35 points and shot below 40%.

LSU finished the game attempting 21 more shots than the Aggies but only scored 13 more points. 

However, in the end, LSU was able to pull away due to the second-half play of their dynamic duo of Morrow and Johnson.

Johnson finished the game with 22 points, five rebounds and four steals while Morrow added 19 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and four steals.

The offense was scarce, as Morrow and Johnson were the only two players to score in double digits. 

Looking at the score and the shooting stats, it was an even game, but the one truly lopsided stat that allowed LSU to pull away was the turnover margin. LSU had 12 turnovers compared to the Aggies’ 21. 

Another stat that eventually decided the game was the second chance opportunities. LSU leads the SEC in rebounds, which showed on Sunday against Texas A&M.

“When your shots aren’t falling, what keeps you in the game and gives you a chance to win is rebounding in defense,” head coach Kim Mulkey said.

LSU outrebounded the Aggies 52-33 and added 18 second-chance points. In a game where LSU’s offense was nowhere near what people are used to seeing all season long, the Tigers found ways to outwork their opponent and found a way to win. 

“Thirty offensive boards and holding your opponents to under 39 [field goal percentage] will always give you a chance when you just can’t find a bucket.”

The Tigers will be back in the PMAC on Thursday, taking on Oklahoma in a top-25 matchup.