Super Sunday indeed
The eye of the world was on Louisiana Sunday for the biggest sporting event of Sunday: LSU vs. Tennessee in the PMAC and the Tigers edged out the Vols 82-77.
LSU (25-1, 10-1) swept the season series against Tennessee (17-6, 4-6). The Tigers beat Tennessee 89-87 on January 9. It’s the first time in program history that LSU’s beaten Tennessee twice in one season.
In a pleasant surprise, LSU’s leading scorer wasn’t one of the usual suspects. Instead, that distinction came from Kailyn Gilbert who scored 23 points off the bench. Fittingly enough, Gilbert scored 22 points against the Volunteers the first time around, including hitting the game winning shot with one second remaining.
Gilbert was 3-4 from behind the line and 6-7 at the free throw line. She was the catalyst for an LSU bench that contributed 36 points. Mjracle Sheppard had eight, while Jada RIchard had five.
Even though Gilbert was the leading scorer, make no mistake LSU’s big three all had impacts.
Aneesah Morrow, once again, had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Mikaylah Williams had 16 points and accounted for seven of LSU’s 14 assists. Flau’Jae Johnson didn’t have her best game, but she still finished with 12 points and was a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line.
Tennessee certainly shot the ball well enough to win. As a team the Vols shot 48 percent. The problem was they didn’t do other key elements of the game well enough to win. LSU out-rebounded 41 to 37, and the Tigers turned the Volunteers over 19 times, resulting in 24 points.
LSU assisted on 14 of its 28 baskets and they more than doubled up on fast break points (16 to 7). Most importantly, LSU took care of business at the free throw line, knocking down 20 of 22 attempts. Maybe the men’s team could learn something from them?!
AS we creep closer to the end of the regular season, LSU’s well within the running for the SEC regular season championship. Texas beat South Carolina today and as it stands currently, the Tigers, Horns, and Gamecocks are all 10-1 in the league.
LSU will have the whole week off before heading to Austin to take on Texas next Sunday at 2:00.