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The LSU Tigers traveled to Gainesville, Florida looking to start 20-0 for just the second time in program history, but a talented Florida squad stood in their way. Mikaylah Williams, Aneesah Morrow, and Flau’Jae Johnson powered LSU to a masterclass 80-63 win to put the Tigers at 20 wins and 5-0 in SEC play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead over the Florida Gators on Sunday afternoon, but a 16-3 run from the Gators made it a 16-10 lead with 4:16 remaining in the quarter. Ra’Shaya Kyle had four of her seven first-quarter points during that run.
LSU continued to fight down the stretch and keep it close, but it was a 21-15 lead for Florida after 10 minutes of action. For the Tigers, Aneesah Morrow led the way with six, Flau’Jae Johnson had 5, and Mikaylah Williams had 4.
The second quarter was a different story for Kim Mulkey’s squad, dominating the Gators 22-12 in the points column while shooting 47% as a team. LSU opened the quarter on a 13-1 run before Florida settled in around the halfway point. Both teams continued to scratch and flow in a very physical afternoon, but it was the Tigers this time that held a 37-33 lead at the break. Johnson led LSU with 11 points in the first half on 5-11 shooting while Williams was right behind with 10 at the break.
The third quarter was much of the same for the Bayou Bengals, jumping out to a nine-point cushion before Florida fought back to a two-possession game. LSU then ripped off nine straight, including five from Williams to make it a 53-38 lead with 4:19 left in the period. Even as the score was close in the early going, it still felt like LSU had a handle on the game and that certainly showed down the stretch of the second and third quarter. The 15-point lead in the third quarter was the largest at that point in the contest.
In the final quarter, LSU continued to put the game away, jumping out to a 28-point lead by scoring 15 straight points and holding Florida scoreless for the first five minutes of the quarter. With 4:13 left in the game, LSU started to pull starters as they knew the 20th straight win of the season was in hand. Florida was able to outscore the reserves 15-4 down the final stretch, but it was too late as the Tigers picked up the 80-63 win and started 20-0 for just the second time in program history. Williams led the way with 22 points for LSU, but Morrow came away with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the 92nd double-double in her storied career between LSU and DePaul.
BIG NUMBER: 35
LSU was able to force 24 turnovers in the contest with SEC foe Florida, converting those turnovers into 35 points to fuel their way to a win.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Aneesah Morrow
No surprise as the superstar logged her 92nd career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds on 9-13 shooting.
UP NEXT: LSU will travel to Columbia, South Carolina to battle Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks in a nationally televised contest. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. and can be heard on Acadiana’s Classic Country Mustang 107.1 with pregame beginning at 6:30 p.m.