LSU women’s basketball made a statement Thursday night, securing its first conference win of the season with an emphatic 80-59 victory over Georgia at Stegeman Coliseum.
From the opening tip, the Tigers set the tone with energy on both ends of the floor, controlling the paint, forcing turnovers and building separation as the game wore on.
After a tightly contested first quarter, LSU began to assert itself in the second, using defensive pressure that head coach Kim Mulkey has been stressing so far this season and efficient shot-making to take control before halftime.
LSU’s offense was balanced and relentless, consistently finding quality looks while attacking Georgia’s defense inside. The Tigers shot efficiently from the field and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, steadily pushing the lead into double digits.
Defensively, LSU made life difficult for the Bulldogs, limiting Georgia’s shooting and forcing rushed possessions that prevented any sustained momentum.
Shining star Flau’jae Johnson took to the court after an uncertain week dealing with an ankle injury, but came out to assert her dominance on the court with 25 points, 6-for-6 in free throws and three defensive rebounds. She put on a show for her home state after a rough performance against Vanderbilt just a few days prior.
She surpassed 1,800 career points at LSU, becoming the ninth Tiger to do so.
“I told them to not only believe in each other but believe in themselves,” Johnson said postgame.
The turning point came late in the third quarter when LSU went on a decisive run, stretching the lead and silencing the home crowd. From there, the Tigers never looked back, extending the margin to more than 15 points in the fourth quarter, which they haven’t yet seen in SEC play.
The win marks an important milestone for LSU as it gets back on track in conference play after an early SEC setback, starting 0-2.
“We needed a win certainly,” Mulkey said. “When you lose by two — that’s a heartbreaker on the last-second shot — then you lose by four, that’s another heartbreaker back to back. But this team doesn’t get down, it’s not pointing fingers, it’s not descension, it’s just a lot of new faces in the locker room that are going to learn.”
More importantly, it showcased the Tigers’ ability to play complete basketball — combining physical defense, unselfish offense and poise on the road.
For Georgia, the Bulldogs struggled to find consistency offensively and were unable to match LSU’s physicality, particularly in the paint and on the glass.
With the victory, LSU not only picks up its first SEC win of the season but also builds momentum heading into a challenging stretch of conference play. If Thursday night was any indication, the Tigers are beginning to find their rhythm at the right time.
