Starting the season off on the right foot
Year four of the Kim Mulkey era at LSU got off to a dominant start as #7 LSU beat Eastern Kentucky 95-44 Monday night inside the PMAC.
Flau’Jae Johnson led all players with 25 points and grabbed five rebounds; Aneesah Morrow picked up where she left off last season with 20 points and 10 rebounds; Sa’Myah Smith made her return to the court after tearing her ACL last season and had 15 points and 11 rebounds; and Mikaylah Williams had 18 points and seven rebounds.
“I think we want to be known as the team that will play hard the whole game,” Smith said after the game.
LSU smothered EKU throughout the night, limiting them to 26 percent shooting from the field, and the Tiger defense forced 21 Colonel turnovers. Smith was an especially good defender Monday night with three blocks and a steal. LSU also played a lot of full-court press.
“I don’t know if pressing will be our identity, but if you’re going to get on the floor, I better be able to press and you better be able to help create some things,” Mulkey said. “So, that’s why we are doing that from start to finish as much as we can.”
The Tigers will have the next couple of nights off before returning to the PMAC for a Friday night game against Northwestern State. The game may be streamed on SEC Network+ and tipoff is set for 7:00.