LSU Downs Lady Vols, 76-68

Photo By: Michael Bacigalupi

Da Boot Sports
1/31/2023
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - The Lady Tigers improved to 21-0, 9-0 on Monday night, beating Tennessee 76-68 in front of the largest crowd to ever see a women's basketball game in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center/Dale Brown Court. 

   The Volunteers came focused and ready to play, keeping close to the Ben-Gals all game long. 

   “Well first of all, compliment the fans, goodness gracious,” Coach Kim Mulkey said. “I don’t think I saw
an empty seat, now I didn’t look long, but when I walked out, I was like ‘oh these people are standing,’ It was everything that young people need to experience in college. Thank you to all of the people who made that happen. 
   “I thought it was a game that was good for the SEC and women’s basketball. There are a lot of people who still have their question marks about us, and we’re good with that. We had those question marks, we still have them today. That just feeds our hunger. We just played a team that has played every good team out there this year.”

   Alexis Morris lead the Tigers with 31 points while Angel Reese registered her 21st straight double-double scoring 18 and grabbing 17 rebounds. 

   The first quarter had LSU take the early lead, but the Vols battled back to tie the contest at 8-8 at the 5:48 mark.

   Tied at 12-12 with 2:38 left in the period, the Tigers held Tennessee scoreless the rest of the way
while scoring the final three points to lead 15-12.

   Tennessee refused to cave to the home team fighting back to grab a one point lead, 18-17 with 7:06 left in the first half. 

   The Lady Tigers went on to outscore the Vols 17-11 over the final seven minutes of the half, taking a 34-29 lead at the half. 

   Early in the 3rd period LSU slowly began to pull away from Tennessee, going on a 14-3 run as they increased their lead to 48-34 at the 5:45 mark. 

   There was no quit in the Lady Volunteers as they responded by finishing the third quarter going on a 13-2 run to cut LSU's lead to 50-47.

   The Vols continue to give the Lady Tigers all they could handle over the first two minutes of the final period, cutting the lead to one, 53-52. 

   Over the final 7:43 of the contest, LSU took over, finishing their tough opponent off like championship caliber teams do.  First going on a 13-2 run over a four minute span to increase their lead to 66-54 with 3:57 left on the clock. 

   Tennessee trimmed the lead to six with 18 seconds remaining before Alexis Morris would sink LSU's final four points from the charity stripe to seal the 76-68 victory.

   It was an incredible night in the assembly center as the 15,157 fans showed up in force all wearing white for the 'White Out Game'. The PMAC was loud and electric as everyone was treated to an outstanding SEC contest.

   “I’ve never been a part of this type of environment,” Reese said. “When I walked out, I felt like I’m at home. It was like a winter wonderland in there with all the white.”

   With the win, the 3rd ranked Lady Tigers are now 21-0 overall and 9-0 in SEC play.

   Next up LSU will host the Georgia Bulldogs in the PMAC on Thursday Feb. 2 at 7:00pm CST. 

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Photos Below by: Michael Bacigalupi

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Photos Below by: Jonathan Mailhes

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