With three seconds left in overtime, Mikaylah Williams drove to the basket. In heavy traffic, Williams went in for a layup to give LSU a one-point lead in the final seconds of the game. But she missed, and Alabama came away with an 88-85 upset win at home over LSU in overtime.
Was the result of the game decided by one missed basket? No. But for LSU, Williams’ miss was the epitome of the position it found itself in: close, but not close enough.
The Tigers now suffer their third loss, all three of which have come on the road to ranked opponents.
Here are the takeaways from LSU’s third loss of the season.
Mikaylah Williams was LSU’s answer
Williams led LSU with 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field, and 2-of-4 from three. Her 22 points included her 1,000th career point.
Aneesah Morrow finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. But Flau’jae Johnson had a quiet night with just six points and seven rebounds. She shot just 2-of-12 from the field.
“If you look at some of our kids that are our primary players, and what they shot from the field, it’s unusual,” head coach Kim Mulkey said.
Mjracle Sheppard brought LSU within two points of Alabama with her first made three of the season. She finished with 10 points off the bench.
Sa’Myah Smith held her own in the paint with 15 points and six rebounds, and Kailyn Gilbert added another nine points off the bench.
Alabama’s defense turned into points
The Crimson Tide first gained momentum in the first half on the defensive side of the ball, as its half-court press forced LSU to take quick shots.
When LSU’s shots wouldn’t fall, Alabama was there to clean it up and regain possession. The Crimson Tide outrebounded LSU 43-37, and 32 of its rebounds came on the defensive side.
“We did get outrebounded, and that’s disappointing,” Mulkey said. “But at the same time, if you do a scouting report on us, that’ll be a big emphasis…I thought it was a very physical game.”
But Alabama translated those rebounds into points, especially in the paint. Of Alabama’s 88 points, 44 came in the paint.
Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye
Sarah Ashlee Barker led Alabama’s attack in the first half with 11 first half points on 5-of-7 shooting, five assists, two steals and two rebounds.
Barker finished the game with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
The graduate-senior was a force both on defense and scoring the ball, but where she arguably helped Alabama thrive most was her awareness and ball distribution.
Barker had a solid connection with Essence Cody, who scored 15 first half points on 6-of-8 shooting for the Crimson Tide. She finished the game with 17 points and six rebounds.
But Aaliyah Nye took control for Alabama in the second half, scoring 18 points in the second half. She finished with 28 points, shooting 9-of-12 from the field and 3-of-4 from three. However, she fouled out with under four minutes left to play in regulation.
“That’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re one of the top players, her and Barker,” Mulkey said. “You’re dealing with older players with experience and are more mature.”
Zaay Green added 15 points and seven rebounds.
Foul Trouble
Especially in the minutes that mattered most, fouls played a significant role in the outcome of the game.
“That was a poorly officiated game, and I bet if you asked [Curry], she’ll tell you the same thing,” Mulkey said. “It just didn’t flow, for either team.”
The Tigers finished with 21 fouls as a team, and six players finished with multiple fouls.
Johnson fouled out of the game with 31 seconds left in overtime, which led to Barker also fouling out for Alabama after the same play due to an intentional foul.
Williams and Sheppard each finished with four fouls. Morrow finished with three fouls, including a technical foul.
But LSU also found itself at the free throw line enough to make up for its own troubles. The Tigers shot 14-of-23 (60.9%) from the foul line.
“You can’t shoot 14-for-23 from the foul line,” Mulkey said. “I think they only missed two or three.”
What’s next?
As the postseason is one game away, LSU looks to close the regular season in the winner’s column. The Tigers will return to Baton Rouge to host Ole Miss on Sunday for Senior Day.
Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. from the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, and will be televised on the SEC Network.
