The LSU women’s basketball team closed out Senior Night with a strong 89–73 win over the Tennessee Volunteers at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, where 10,877 fans were in attendance.
Both teams entered the matchup coming off contrasting results—LSU with a home win over Missouri and Tennessee looking to rebound from a loss to Oklahoma.
LSU narrowly won the rebounding battle, 45–43, and used its interior scoring to control the game.
Before tipoff, the Tigers honored three seniors—Flau’Jae Johnson, Izzy Besselman and Amiya Joyner—in their final regular-season home appearance. Johnson finished the night with 10 points and three steals. Besselman, who has battled a heart condition, received a loud ovation when she checked in late in the fourth quarter, and Joyner earned a starting spot for the occasion.
“You’re looking at three seniors who really have three different stories to tell… She’s very strong, and I just think [Amiya], in one year, has been able to contribute, which is extremely hard to do in a program as talented as ours,” Mulkey said.
LSU’s largest lead came in the fourth quarter at 18 points. The Tigers dominated the paint, 50–30, and put together their best scoring run—a 14-point burst—in the second quarter.
Freshman Grace Knox delivered one of her strongest performances of the season with 13 points and nine rebounds. Mikaylah Williams, who logged 37 minutes and 46 seconds, added 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
Mulkey praised Knox’s energy and consistency.
“Grace is motivated every game, every day. I love her fire. I love how she gets pumped up… She’s not going to stop being Grace, and that’s what I love about her.”
With the regular-season home schedule complete, Mulkey emphasized the importance of postseason positioning.
“I just want to host the first- and second-round games here. I think our fans deserve it, our team deserves it, and certainly we’d like to be in Fort Worth.”
LSU improved to 25–4 and will travel to Starkville for its next matchup against Mississippi State on Sunday, March 1, at 3 p.m.
