Three in a row
For the fifteenth time this season LSU (23-1, 8-1) was able to protect home court as the Tigers handled Mississippi State 81-67 Sunday afternoon inside the PMAC.
Once again LSU’s big three led the way as Mikaylah Williams had a game-high 22 points, Flau’Jae Johnson had 20 points, and Aneesah Morrow flirted with a 20/20 game as she had 18 points and 20 rebounds.
LSU also got a solid contribution from Jersey Wolfenbarger as she had her best game in months with 12 points and seven rebounds; she was also credited with two steals and two blocks.
Sunday’s contest was all LSU. The Tigers never trailed, and were only tied with Mississippi State for the game’s first 11 seconds.
But just because the Tigers led for 99 percent of the game, that doesn’t mean they were perfect. Despite Morrow’s 20 rebounds, Mississippi State as a team won the battle on the glass by one, 49 to 48, and the Bulldog bench accounted for 33 points, while LSU’s could only muster seven.
LSU was also dreadful shooting the ball in fourth quarter, hitting a total of five shots. The Tigers hit five of 22 attempts (22 percent) and only made one of its final 10 attempts. You can have quarters like these now, but as we inch closer to March and postseason play, stretches like that can end your season.
LSU also wasn’t great with the ball as the Tigers had 16 turnovers to 14 assists, Johnson and Williams, LSU’s two primary ball handlers, each had four turnovers; but in a pleasant change the Tigers had one of its better days shooting the ball from three, hitting 9 of 20 attempts.
The second half of LSU’s conference schedule is an interesting mix of equal competition and bottom dwellers. LSU is currently tied for second in the SEC with Kentucky and Texas, and will have to go on the road to both in the coming weeks, but they also have games against Missouri and Georgia, both of whom are 1-8 in league play.
Up next, LSU goes on the road to CoMo to take on Mizzou Thursday night at 6:30. That game may be streamed on SEC Network+.