The LSU women’s basketball team had to overcome a scrappy Arkansas team to pull out a 92-70 victory inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Thursday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU had its hands full in the first quarter as Arkansas took an early lead, and maintained it for a long stretch. After Taleyah Jones drained a three-pointer, the Razorbacks held a 15-8 lead with less than six minutes in the opening quarter.
LSU cut into that lead with a second-chance jumper by Zakiyah Johnson, and then a jumper by Bella Hines. Arkansas answered with a three by Bonnie Deas to push the lead back to six.
LSU finally tied the game in the final 1:20 of the quarter as Kate Koval made a layup and Johnson added a tip-in layup. At the end of the first, the game was tied 22-22.
Arkansas started the second with an and-one by Maria Anais Rodriguez. LSU would respond with a fast-break layup by Milaysia Fulwiley and then took the lead with a jumper by Mikaylah Williams.
With 6:38 left in the second, LSU seized control as Jada Richard’s layup sparked a 10-1 run for the Tigers. Arkansas finished the second quarter strong outscoring LSU 5-0 in the final 1:14. At the break, LSU led 36-33.
LSU came out strong to start the second half as Flau’jae Johnson made a layup which ignited a 11-0 run for the Tigers. A few minutes later, Richard hit a three-pointer which extended LSU’s lead to 18 points.
The Tigers never looked back as they led by 19 points at the end of the third quarter and then maintained that lead throughout the fourth quarter.
BIG NUMBER: 6
With Thursday’s victory, LSU has now won six straight games, all in Southeastern Conference play. The number six is also how many Tigers scored in double figures in the win over Arkansas.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: MIKAYLA WILLIAMS & FLAU’JAE JOHNSON
Williams stepped up in a big way for Kim Mulkey as she scored 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting, while also pulling down five rebounds in victory. Johnson meanwhile came on strong in the second half as she also scored 17 points.
UP NEXT: LSU (20-2, 6-2) will return to action on Sunday when it hosts Alabama. Tip is set for 11 a.m. and the game can be heard on Mustang 107.1 FM — Acadiana’s Classic Country.