Behind a high-powered offense and a heartfelt performance from Savannah, Georgia, native Flau’jae Johnson, the No. 5 Tigers blew past Georgia Southern 118-70 Sunday afternoon in Statesboro.
The win moved LSU to 3-0 on the season, marking the third-straight game the Tigers have topped the 100-point mark. LSU wasted no time showing why it’s one of the most dangerous teams in the country.
From the opening tip, LSU looked like a national title contender. The Tigers shot 70% from the field in the first quarter, sprinting out to a 31-16 lead. MiLaysia Fulwiley and Johnson led the surge, slicing through Georgia Southern’s post in transition and knocking down threes to ignite the crowd — much of which was there to see Johnson’s homecoming.
By halftime, LSU had ballooned its advantage to 67-36, thanks to relentless rebounding and a 36-point second quarter. The Tigers dominated the glass, scoring at least 20 points in each quarter using the strong offense that head coach Kim Mulkey heavily recruited for during the off-season.
For Johnson, Sunday’s game was more than another early-season blowout — it was personal. The LSU star guard returned to her home state, playing just over an hour from where she grew up in Savannah.
“Just so special, my grandparents were in the back, they got to see me play and it was fun,” said Johnson in a post-game interview. “The energy here was wild [with] all my family here, it was just great.”
She delivered a complete performance — 19 points, six assists, four rebounds and one steal — as the Tigers put together the most balanced outing of the year.
Fulwiley, coming off a 30-point game earlier in the week, led the surge early with her pace and shot-making abilities. She finished with 19 points, five rebounds and three steals.
“We got a lot of people that can score the ball, we don’t have a liability where you can not guard somebody,” Mulkey said. “Everybody is able to score the ball, and particularly from the three, all of them will let it go.”
It wasn’t just LSU’s stars doing the damage. Six Tigers scored in double figures, highlighting the team’s offensive depth and chemistry.
Freshman standout ZaKiyah Johnson continued to showcase her scoring abilities in her debut season with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Junior standout Mikaylah Williams added 15, showing her versatility with midrange jumpers and aggressive drives. Forward Kate Koval anchored the paint with 12 points and 14 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, while freshman Grace Knox came off the bench to score 13.
Looking ahead, LSU will return to Baton Rouge for a Wednesday matchup against Charlotte before facing a challenging non-conference slate that includes Duke and Tulane.
Through three games, Mulkey’s team has shown the kind of offensive firepower and chemistry that could make another deep March run possible — and Sunday’s win, fueled by a hometown hero, was one more reminder of how deep this LSU roster goes.
