The game that was predicted to be LSU’s offensive showcase turned into a grind-it-out victory. Sure, the Tigers snagged the win against Vanderbilt and extended their winning streak to 19-0, but the Commodores fought hard, no doubt about it. They actually gave LSU a run for their money in the first half. And Flau’jae Johnson didn’t hold back from calling out the team for their lackluster efforts early on.

“In the first half, we didn’t play our best basketball. We weren’t helping each other on defense. We had to kind of go on our own run and just kind of pick things up,” Johnson admitted after the game. And she wasn’t wrong.

The Lady Tigers looked out of sync, especially on defense, and Vanderbilt took full advantage. The Commodores drew five charging fouls from the Tigers, including four in the second quarter alone, erasing LSU’s six-point lead and tying the game 37-37 by halftime.

On the defensive end, Vanderbilt forced LSU into bad shots, offensive fouls, and turnovers. It was clear the Tigers were off their game. “We just got sloppy,” said head coach Kim Mulkey. “Turnovers in any sport will cost you. We’ve just been fortunate enough to score one more bucket than somebody else.” 

LSU had 12 personal fouls and turned the ball over 12 times in the first half. However, talking about that, Vanderbilt’s weren’t great either, with 12 personal fouls and 15 turnovers, but they managed to keep LSU on their toes. As Mulkey put it, “I want to give them credit. They’re coming off two losses, and sometimes you can fold or bow your neck. I just thought they bowed their neck.”

Heading into the fourth quarter, LSU led by just one point after a back-and-forth third. Mikaylah Williams shone in that stretch, scoring 11 of LSU’s 21 third-quarter points. But in crunch time, it was Johnson’s show.

She scored seven of the next 11 points to regain the lead for LSU. Her layups in the final two minutes sealed the deal, giving the Tigers a 77-72 cushion they never relinquished. Johnson finished with 25 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter.

In a game where LSU’s bench only contributed nine points and per #4 didn’t contribute much on the defensive end, the “Big Three” of Johnson, Aneesah Morrow, and Williams carried the load. Together, they scored 68 of LSU’s 83 points. Williams added 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Morrow recorded 23 points and 15 rebounds. 

Flau’jae Johnson’s big night and Morrow’s historic feat

While Johnson’s clutch performance stood out, the night belonged to Morrow, who etched her name into the history books. The senior became just the eighth player in NCAA Division I history to record 2,500 career points and 1,500 rebounds. 

She reached the milestone with her 12th rebound in the fourth quarter. And a few years back, she wouldn’t have even imagined this. Before leading Simeon High School in Chicago to its first state championship in 2020, she endured three knee injuries that cast doubt on her future in the sport. 

“My trainer told me I have to be elite, that’s the only way I train. I practice the way I play because I never know if the game will be taken away from me again. So, I have to play my heart out every night,” she said. And she’s done just that!

Morrow currently leads the nation in rebounding. She collected 860 rebounds at DePaul and 643 boards in just 55 games at LSU. Last week, she crossed the 2,500-point mark at Tennessee, and against Vanderbilt, she made history.

Even Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph couldn’t help but applaud Morrow. “There’s no substitute for what that kid has inside her heart. You can’t coach what she does. You either have that, or you don’t,” Ralph said.

Now, already projected as the No. 3 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, LSU’s 24’s future looks brighter than ever. With performances like these, she is just solidifying her position. Let’s see how she finishes her collegiate career before heading to the pros!