Da Boot Sports
3/31/2022
By: Terrill J. Weil

BATON ROUGE, LA - Kim Mulkey was honored on Thursday as the AP Women's National Basketball Coach of the Year. It is the third time she has won the award. Only two other coaches in NCAA history have won the honor three times.

She took over a Lady Tigers team that went 9-13 the season before and went 26-6 during her first season, winning their most games since the 2007-08 season. They finished 2nd in the SEC and ended up ranked #9 in the final AP Poll of the season. LSU was 6-1 against ranked opponents in Coach Mulkey’s debut season and the Tigers hosted March Madness games as a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, winning their first NCAA Tournament game since 2014 before falling to Ohio State in the second round.

"I'm certainly honored to be in that group." Mulkey said. "This doesn't happen without players who allow you to coach them and buy into a system. We had a really, really good year. You make goals that are realistic such as having a winning season," she said. "Beat your first ranked team, we're going to celebrate that. In conference if we finish in the top half of SEC, we can then potentially get to the NCAA tournament. It sounds so simple, but you have to crawl before you can walk and have to walk before you can run. We were just realistic. I can't name all the things that the team did this year, but it was unbelievable. We were not supposed to do what we did in a year. That's hard to do. This bunch jump-started this program again." Mulkey said. “It gave everybody an interest, and I’m forever grateful to them. Forever.”

Da Boot Sports
3/21/2022
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - The 6th seed Ohio State Lady Buckeyes defeated the #3 seed LSU Lady Tigers 79-64 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen in the Spokane Regional on Monday night in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. 
   It was a tough ending to a wonderful season for the Lady Tigers who finished with a 26-6 record. Under first year head coach Kim Mulkey, this group of young ladies flourished into a competitive unit that brought excitement back to LSU women's basketball.  

   “One of my most enjoyable years ever in my career,” said Coach Mulkey, who is a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year. “I personally judge good coaches based on the talent they have on that floor and are they overachieving? Did we beat some people this year we should not have beaten? You bet we did. We beat a lot of ’em. We beat ranked teams. We didn’t start this baby ranked. We came from nowhere and just built it.”


   The Lady Tigers controlled the opening tip and scored quickly as Khayla Pointer sank a three pointer 16 seconds into
the contest bringing the crowd of 8,135 to their feet.
   LSU's defense held Ohio State scoreless until Rikki Harris sank two free throws at the 6:36 mark before Taylor Thierry banked in a layup off of a LSU turnover to put the Lady Buckeyes up 4-3 with 6:14 left in the first period.
   Over the next three minutes Ohio State would outscore LSU 6-5 to hold onto a 10-8 advantage at the 3:15 mark, as six early  turnovers aided the Buckeyes. 
   With :44 seconds left in the period, LSU would find themselves in a four minute scoring slump as the Lady Buckeyes would lead 15-8 thanks to Taylor Mikesell hitting a three pointer with :05 seconds left in the first period.

   We began the second period with Ohio State on a 11-0 run while LSU had missed their last nine shots, but the Ben-Gals would wake up offensively to keep pace with the Buckeyes.
   Halfway through the period, an Autumn Newby layup pulled LSU to within three, 23-20 with 5:30 left in the first half, but Rebeka Mikulasikova answered with Ohio State's 5th three pointer of the contest to put her team up 26-20.
   The Lady Buckeyes would outscore LSU 8-6 over the final five minutes of the second period to take a 34-26 lead at the half.

   Both teams shot poorly from the floor in the first half as LSU hit 11-33 for 33% while OSU finished 13-34 for 38%. But the difference in the contest was the three point shooting as the Lady Tigers only sank 2-5 from behind the arc for 40% compared to the Buckeyes hitting 6-13 for 46%. LSU finished 50% at the free throw line hitting only 2-4 while OSU hit 100%, 2-2 from the charity stripe. LSU outrebounded Ohio State, 26-18 during the first 20 minutes, but LSU committed nine costly turnovers while the Buckeyes only turned the ball over four times.


   Ohio State began the third period playing aggressively on both ends of the floor as they would build a 42-28 lead at the 6:08 mark as LSU sputtered offensively, struggling to score against an energetic, high intensity OSU defense.
   With 4:40 left in the period the Buckeyes increased their lead to 19 points, 49-30 as Ohio State continued to out-hustle and out-play the Lady Tigers. 
   The Buckeyes kept their foot down on the accelerator building a 24 point lead, 57-33 before LSU would score four straight to cut the score to 57-37 to end the third period.

   The Lady Tigers began the final period with fire in their eyes, slowly chipping away at the Ohio State lead to find themselves down by eleven, 74-63 with only 2:39 remaining in the game.
   LSU had several opportunities to get the lead under double digits but the shots simply wouldn't fall as the Lady Buckeyes would advance to the Sweet Sixteen with a 79-64 victory.

   In her final game as a LSU Tiger Khayla Pointer finished with 32 points as she lead a furious fourth period comeback that fell short as Ohio State was able to survive the run and pull back away late in the contest.  “It’s been great,” Pointer said. “It’s been fun. Coach obviously told us to think of all of the things we accomplished this year. We came up short. But can’t look over, you know, everything we have been able to do and the things we have accomplished.”

​Jailin Cherry added 12 points in her final game wearing the purple and gold.  “You know, we have never been here before,” Cherry echoed. “And it was just a blessing to play on this stage and at this level. Yeah, everybody doesn’t make it (to the NCAA Tournament), but we got a chance to make it. And, you know, we did a lot of good things so it’s really nothing negative I can say about it.”

   It simply was a bad time to have an off night. But give the Lady Buckeyes credit, they came into a hostile environment and played at a high level throughout the contest. 

   With that said, the 2021-22 LSU women's basketball season comes to an end. A huge thank you to Coach Mulkey and all of the LSU players for a fun and memorable year...... Until next season, .... GEAUX TIGERS!!!
   

Photos Below By: Jonathan Mailhes

Da Boot Sports
3/19/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: LSU Staff

   
   BATON ROUGE – March Madness was alive and well Saturday in the PMAC as No. 3 LSU took down No. 14 Jackson State, 83-77, in a game that featured multiple twists and turns.
   
   The Tigers won their first NCAA Tournament game since 2014. LSU will matchup with Ohio State on Monday with time and television still to be announced. A trip to the Sweet Sixteen will be on the line.

   “They just won their very first game in the NCAA Tournament – these kids right here, this senior group,” LSU Head Coach Kim Mulkey said. “That’s important and we don’t need to forget that. They won and they’re experiencing something today and tonight and tomorrow the next game that they’ve never experienced in their life.”

   LSU led by as many as 17 in the third quarter, but JSU refused to go away, battling all the back to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter. JSU ultimately built its lead up to 10 with under five minutes remaining in the game, but LSU, fueled by a home court advantage, stormed back to finish the game on a 19-3 run to survive and advance.

   With the game tied under one minute remaining, Pointer drained a three from the left wing to put the Tigers in front once and for all.

   “Just stay confident in your game no matter the stretch of the game – high or lows,” Pointer said. “It’s a game of runs. I work on those shots every single day. The ball came around and I just shot it with confidence. I didn’t think twice about it..

   LSU’s All-American Khayla Pointer stuffed the stat sheet and had a game-high 26 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. She is the only player in the last 20 years to have at least 25 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals in an NCAA Tournament game (men’s or women’s), according to Stats By STATS.

   Jailin Cherry came out sizzling for the Tigers and scored a career-high 24 points on 12-23 shooting. Eighteen of her points came in the first half. Faustine Aifuwa also played big for LSU, with 17 points and 14 rebounds to finish with a double-double. She also protected the rim with 7 blocks.

   Miya Crump was huge for JSU with 21 points, hitting multiple clutch shots to help the Lady Tigers build its lead in the fourth quarter. Ameshya Williams-Holliday had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds for JSU.

   It was a full-court press that fueled LSU’s comeback victory. Trailing 10 with 4:54 remaining the press created chaos for JSU allowing LSU to surge in front and win the game.

   Cherry started quick and made her first two attempts to give the Tigers an early 4-2 lead. LSU went up 9-2 after
Aifuwa converted on an and-one and Ryann Payne dished it to Cherry on a two-on-one fast break for a lay-in. JSU scored the next five points to bring it within two. Awa Trasi put LSU up 16-12 after grabbing an offensive board, drawing a foul and sinking two free throws. LSU led 16-14 at the end of the first quarter.

   Pointer made her first basket, a three, at the 8:08 mark in the second to put the Tigers up by five. JSU scored the next five though to tie it at 19. Cherry scored on the ensuing LSU possession, giving her 10 points and kicking off a 6-0 LSU run. An 8-0 run minutes later gave LSU a 10-point, 35-25, lead after Pointer found Cherry on back-to-back fast breaks to give the Tigers their largest lead. Morris found Cherry on a fast break out of the timeout to put LSU up 12. LSU took a 41-28 lead into the half.

   Within the first two minutes of the half, LSU built its lead to 17, but JSU surged back with a 10-0 run. Pointer made a layup to end the run and LSU built its lead back to nine going into the media timeout with 4:51 left in the third quarter. With 2:42 left in the quarter though, JSU tied it with a 6-0 run on back-to-back threes. JSU took a lead, but after a Technical was called on Woodard, Alexis Morris tied the game at 54 with two free throws. LSU trailed by one, 58-57 going into the final quarter.

   Pointer scored on the first possession of the quarter to put LSU back in front. Crump put JSU back in front, 62-60, with a step-back three with 8:20 remaining. With 7:00 remaining, LSU trailed 66-60. JSU led 74-64 with 4:54 remaining as LSU was ice cold going into the media timeout.

   “The kids never stopped playing hard,” Coach Mulkey said. “They just kept playing hard and we happened to get some steals and change the momentum.”

   “This team, we’re relentless,” Pointer said. “We weren’t ready to go home.”

   By the 3:20 mark LSU brought it within six and Mulkey called timeout after an Aifuwa layup. Pointer stole the ball out of the timeout and drove the ball all the way to the rack, sinking a circus shot and drawing the foul. She made the free throw to bring LSU within three and then Cherry stole the ball on the next inbound and laid it in to make it a one point game. Payne was called for a delay of game technical after the made basket though, fouling out of the game. JSU missed both technical free throws. Aifuwa blocked a shot then and Pointer took the rebound then went the length of the floor, drawing a foul and making both free throws to put LSU up, 75-74. Cherry put LSU up on a jumper three with 2:12 left on, giving her a new career-high. The game entered its final minute tied at 77. Pointer made a three with 48.7 seconds left to give LSU a lead after JSU had tied it.

   LSU’s All-American Khayla Pointer stuffed the stat sheet and had a game-high 26 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. She is the only player in the last 20 years to have at least 25 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals in an NCAA Tournament game (men’s or women’s), according to Stats By STATS.

   Jailin Cherry came out sizzling for the Tigers and scored a career-high 24 points on 12-23 shooting. Eighteen of her points came in the first half. Faustine Aifuwa also played big for LSU, with 17 points and 14 rebounds to finish with a double-double. She also protected the rim with 7 blocks.

   Miya Crump was huge for JSU with 21 points, hitting multiple clutch shots to help the Lady Tigers build its lead in the fourth quarter. Ameshya Williams-Holliday had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds for JSU.

   It was a full-court press that fueled LSU’s comeback victory. Trailing 10 with 4:54 remaining the press created chaos for JSU allowing LSU to surge in front and win the game.

   Cherry started quick and made her first two attempts to give the Tigers an early 4-2 lead. LSU went up 9-2 after
Aifuwa converted on an and-one and Ryann Payne dished it to Cherry on a two-on-one fast break for a lay-in. JSU scored the next five points to bring it within two. Awa Trasi put LSU up 16-12 after grabbing an offensive board, drawing a foul and sinking two free throws. LSU led 16-14 at the end of the first quarter.

   Pointer made her first basket, a three, at the 8:08 mark in the second to put the Tigers up by five. JSU scored the next five though to tie it at 19. Cherry scored on the ensuing LSU possession, giving her 10 points and kicking off a 6-0 LSU run. An 8-0 run minutes later gave LSU a 10-point, 35-25, lead after Pointer found Cherry on back-to-back fast breaks to give the Tigers their largest lead. Morris found Cherry on a fast break out of the timeout to put LSU up 12. LSU took a 41-28 lead into the half.

   Within the first two minutes of the half, LSU built its lead to 17, but JSU surged back with a 10-0 run. Pointer made a layup to end the run and LSU built its lead back to nine going into the media timeout with 4:51 left in the third quarter. With 2:42 left in the quarter though, JSU tied it with a 6-0 run on back-to-back threes. JSU took a lead, but after a Technical was called on Woodard, Alexis Morris tied the game at 54 with two free throws. LSU trailed by one, 58-57 going into the final quarter.

   Pointer scored on the first possession of the quarter to put LSU back in front. Crump put JSU back in front, 62-60, with a step-back three with 8:20 remaining. With 7:00 remaining, LSU trailed 66-60. JSU led 74-64 with 4:54 remaining as LSU was ice cold going into the media timeout.

​   By the 3:20 mark LSU brought it within six and Mulkey called timeout after an Aifuwa layup. Pointer stole the ball out of the timeout and drove the ball all the way to the rack, sinking a circus shot and drawing the foul. She made the free throw to bring LSU within three and then Cherry stole the ball on the next inbound and laid it in to make it a one point game. Payne was called for a delay of game technical after the made basket though, fouling out of the game. JSU missed both technical free throws. Aifuwa blocked a shot then and Pointer took the rebound then went the length of the floor, drawing a foul and making both free throws to put LSU up, 75-74. Cherry put LSU up on a jumper three with 2:12 left on, giving her a new career-high. The game entered its final minute tied at 77. Pointer made a three with 48.7 seconds left to give LSU a lead after JSU had tied it.
​   

Da Boot Sports
3/14/2022
By: David Penn

BATON ROUGE, LA - If you haven’t been a part of the electric atmosphere at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, you still have a chance. The Athletic Coach of the Year and LSU Lady Tigers Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey is set to lead the #3 seed Lady Tigers into battle after posting a 25-5 record in her first season in Baton Rouge. The 8th ranked Lady Tigers will host the 14th seeded Jackson State Lady Tigers in Baton Rouge on Saturday March 19th in the PMAC.

This will be LSU's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2018...

The LSU Lady Tigers are led by Khayla Pointer who has averaged 19 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. Alexis
Morris has averaged 15.8 ppg. On the glass, Autumn Newby and Faustine Aifuwa combined for 433 rebounds with Newby averaging 8.1 rpg and Aifuwa grabbing 6.6 rpg, the Lady Tigers average 43.5 rebounds a game while allowing 34.6 rebounds to the other team.

Coach Mulkey was recently named a semifinalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award and Pointer was named a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award.

Coach Mulkey had this to say about the NCAA tournament, “You just get excited for the people sitting there that are going
​to get to see first and second round deal here at the PMAC and for those players that have never been a part of this and that’s my excitement. Certainly the competitive spirit comes out of me as we get closer to the games, but great crowd there for the announcement and it’s here, this is going to be fun. No matter how it ends, when it ends, what happens it’s fun.”

Da Boot Sports
3/4/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: LSU Staff


   NASHVILLE – LSU fell in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament Friday night to Kentucky, 78-63.
   “They (Kentucky) just came out on fire,” LSU Coach Kim Mulkey said. “I watched them play the previous games and they have all their parts back. They have everybody healthy, you know, and they’ve been on a run. They’ve won seven or eight in a row. And they can score the ball. And I think when you have Treasure Hunt and people like that shooting threes and making them, that helps Rhyne Howard not have to do it all.
   “They just punched us in the mouth early and we didn’t fold our tent. We kept trying to get back in the game. And we cut — didn’t we cut it to 9 at one point? So we kept battling. Just give them credit. Give them credit. They’re on a roll right now.”
LSU fell down early and trailed by 20 at the half, but the Tigers fought back in the third quarter to get the game within nine points. LSU could not sustain its third quarter momentum though as Kentucky pulled away.
   The Tigers will return to Baton Rouge and begin preparations for the NCAA Tournament. Selection Sunday will air on ESPN on March 13 at 7 p.m. CT where LSU is expected to hear its name called as a Top-16 seed to host first and second round games in the PMAC.
   Khayla Pointer led LSU’s comeback attempt in the third quarter where she scored 11 of her final 27 points. She also dished out 7 assists and grabbed 7 rebounds. Ryann Payne went 6-for-9 and finished with 13 points. Both Faustine Aifuwa and Autumn Newby pulled in 8 rebounds.
   Rhyne Howard showed why she is projected to go early in the WNBA Draft, scoring a game-high 32 points and sinking 6 three pointers. Dre’una Edwards had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Treasure Hunt scored 13 points and got 7 rebounds.
   Kentucky struck first on a 6-0 run before Ryann Payne got the Tigers on the board at the 7:30 mark of the opening quarter. Pointer thread the needle twice down the court  to get Payne the ball on fast breaks to bring the Tigers within two, 8-6. Howard gave the Wildcats a 16-8 lead after sinking two threes in a row. Robyn Benton hit a three a couple possessions later to give Kentucky a 12-point lead, forcing an LSU timeout. Kentucky led 25-13 at the end of the quarter with Howard leading the way with 13 points for the Wildcats.
   Kentucky hit two threes early in the second quarter to take a 33-15 lead and the Wildcats soon built their lead to over 20 by the 6:00 mark of the second quarter. Late in the second quarter Autumn Newby went down, going for an offensive rebound with an apparent back injury. LSU went to the break trailing, 45-25. Kentucky shot 54.8-percent and hit eight threes to build its lead.
Aifuwa scored in the post on the first possession of the second half, battling through contact and looking to shift LSU’s first half misfortunes. Cherry then pulled up in transition on the next possession after a Kentucky miss. Through the middle part of the quarter LSU looked sharper, but was unable to make a significant dent in the Kentucky lead, going into the media timeout trailing, 53-37, with 4:07 left in the quarter. 
   Pointer then scored seven in a row for the Tigers, capped with an and-one at the 2:20 mark, bringing the Tigers within 11. LSU forced a shot-clock violation the the ensuing defensive possession, taking momentum with a ferocious block by Awa Trasi. Pointer then made it nine straight to make it a nine-point game, forcing a Kentucky timeout with 1:27 left in the quarter. LSU went into the fourth quarter trailing, 57-46.
   By the 8:09 point in the fourth quarter, Kentucky went back up by 15 and then Howard hit a three, a dagger for LSU’s comeback attempt that put the Wildcats up, 66-48.