Riding high at 19-0, LSU’s undefeated season is hanging by a thread—well, almost. Losing at home would be the absolute worst-case scenario for Kim Mulkey’s Tigers. They nearly kissed their streak goodbye in their last nail-biter against Tennessee, but Kailyn Gilbert’s late-game magic kept them alive. And now? One more neck-to-neck game against the Vanderbilt Commodores that had once again put their winning streak in danger. It was so close that only one point separated the teams, going into the fourth quarter.

Both teams started the game equally strong in the first quarter, as it ended in a 21-21 tie. Morrow and Mikaylah Williams both finished with 7 points for the Tigers, while Vanderbilt’s Kahmil Pierre led the Commodores with 9 points in the period. The Commodores had a 13-8 lead with 5:25 to go, but LSU responded with a 6-0 run that was capped by a second-chance bucket from Williams.

The second quarter was equally tight, as the two teams traded buckets throughout the period. LSU went up by as many as five early in the period, but Vanderbilt responded to every Tiger make with a make, thereby ending the first half with a 37-37 tie. The Commodores jumped out to a 44-40 lead early in the second half thanks to a steal and a bucket from Kahmil Pierre. LSU replied with 2 quick buckets from Morrow and an off-turnover layup from Williams as the Tigers retook a 46-44 lead into the first media timeout. As the teams continued to trade buckets, the period ended 58-57 in favor of the Tigers.

Neither team pulled off a large lead in the fourth quarter. But the highlight came at the 6:38 mark when Flau’jae Johnson heaved up a last-second three-pointer to give LSU a 65-63 lead. With 1:46 left to go in the game, Flau’jae Johnson sunk a layup to extend the Tiger lead to 5. Vanderbilt responded with two foul shots from Iyana Moore, but layups on back-to-back possessions by Aneesah Morrow was just enough to take the game away from the Commodores (83-77). However, amid everything, but fans think the refs are totally not on their side.

Apparently, the officiating has been a mess, per LSU supporters. LSU has four players in foul trouble—Mikaylah Williams, Last-Tear Poa, Sa’Myah Smith, and Shayeann Day-Wilson, all with two fouls each (Williams 3). As if they don’t have enough to worry about, an ejection threat now completes the circle. At this point, you’d think the Tigers were playing the refs instead of Vandy!

Moreover, four more players have picked up single fouls. It includes Kaitlyn Gilbert, Mjracle Sheppard, Jersey Wolfenbarger, and Aneesah Morrow. Meanwhile, even Vanderbilt isn’t spared, with multiple players getting called for more than one foul. Seems like the game is turning into a whistle-fest out there.

And this isn’t the first time people have grumbled about refs during SEC games. However, this time, it’s like the Tigers can’t let this happen despite anything, especially with so much on the line. Kim Mulkey’s crew has fought through adversity before. But teamwork has been the key to their success. “I think it is just togetherness,” Flau’Jae Johnson explained about winning numerous tight games. “I feel like we really come together in those moments when the spotlight is big or we are in a tight game, we just know how to come together.” Coach Kim Mulkey had all the praise for her girls after another close win.

“They all just care about winning, and we just made plays,” said Mulkey whose team is now 5-0 in games decided by 10 points or less. “We’re going to make them sometimes and sometimes we’re not. They’re not afraid of the moment.” However, she gave due credit to the Commodores.

“I want to give them credit,” Mulkey said. “They’re coming off of two losses, and sometimes you can fold or bow your neck and I just thought they bowed their neck.” For LSU, in a game where the bench only scored nine points, the big three of Johnson, Morrow and Williams stepped up. But beyond everything, people are absolutely lashing out on social media. 

Fans frustrated as Kim Mulkey’s crew battles fouls to protect undefeated streak

Social media is losing it. One fan raged, “IM ABOUT TO LOSE MY … MIND WITH THESE HORRIBLE OFFICIALS IN THIS LSU VANDY GAME … HORRIBLE!!” Well, the whole game did feel like one big parade of white shirts blowing whistles.

We know that Kim Mulkey is known for coming off the bench to argue a call for her players. From the season opener against Albany, it all started. A week back, in a game, even commentators were baffled by a foul called on Flau’jae Johnson. So, the officiating against the Lady Tigers has been a thing. Another fan shouted, “These refs … !! Every time LSU plays, the refs go against us every single time. Like I said, it’s an agenda against LSU!” Someone else chimed in with, “They calling too many fouls at home 😭.” Playing at home in Pete Maravich Assembly Center was supposed to be a home advantage for LSU, right? Well, not tonight.

Another added, “Half of LSU team is in foul trouble 😭😭😭.” With the war things were going, they’d probably need to borrow players from the bench just to make it through the game, as eight players called for fouls. And then there was this, “Every replay of this game they show of LSU, there is a travel, foul, moving screen…. Something that hasn’t been called.” 

Seriously, every move, every screen, every drive—whistle. It was like they couldn’t do anything right in the officials’ eyes. Another fan pointed fingers at the team, “I’ve never seen a team get more offensive fouls called on them than this LSU team.” And that’s wild because LSU is known for its sharp offense. But it didn’t have the explosiveness that people were used to seeing. This was only the 6th time this season the Tigers scored under 85 points. To see them repeatedly penalized on that end? It’s surprising, to say the least.