The LSU Tigers won 77-82 against No. 19 Tennessee at home in the PMAC Sunday afternoon, making it the first time in program history the Tigers defeat the Vols twice in one season. After a first half scoring drought, LSU’s Kailyn Gilbert put up 21 second half points, allowing the Tigers to settle into their rhythm.

“It’s been pretty tough, a lot of looking at film. Late nights, just trying to get myself up out of this,” Gilbert said on trying to find her scoring touch off the bench. 

With Tennessee’s rotation of players in and out of the game, the Tigers had to quickly make the defensive adjustment and find opportunities to get the ball in the basket any way they could. LSU was able to capitalize off their free throw opportunities shooting 20/22 from the line.

“I always say you can’t lose games if you make all your free throws, and you got to get there,” Kim Mulkey said of her team’s ability to make it to the line against the Vols. 

After starting guard Flau’Jae Johnson and forward Aneesah Morrow head to the bench late in the third period in foul trouble, Mulkey relies on her bench to hold off a persistent Tennessee team. 

“They got you the lead… that might have been where the game was won,” Mulkey said about how the bench contributed to the historic win in the PMAC.

Now ranked No. 1 in the SEC, the LSU Tigers will need to keep up the intensity as they head to the Moody Center in Austin, TX to face the No. 4 Texas Longhorns on Sunday, Feb. 16.