Big game. Big stakes. No. 14 Kentucky hosts No. 7 LSU in a high-intensity SEC showdown today. The Wildcats (21-4) are riding a two-game win streak, hungry for their third ranked win in seven games. On the other side, LSU (26-2) is determined to close out the regular season strong. But the big question—will Lady Tigers be without Aneesah Morrow again?

Well, LSU fans, you can breathe easy, because the answer is NO, they won’t have to. Morrow is back! LSU played its first game of the season without her against Georgia and still got the job done. But for Sunday’s game against Kentucky, she’s officially off the injury report and ready to suit up. That’s right, the nation’s leading rebounder and LSU’s second-leading scorer will be back on the floor.

But it wasn’t exactly a shock.

Head coach Kim Mulkey had already reassured everyone that there was no serious injury. It all goes back to the Texas game, where she got stepped on. She took herself out, then put herself back in, but that left her with a deep bruise. No structural damage, no ligament tears, no broken bones, just soreness. 

Resting her was purely a precautionary move. “And what better time to rest than tonight? Because of what you guys said, the last three are tough-as-nails games that we are getting ready to see,” the HC asserted. And she wasn’t kidding. 

With the SEC tournament and the last three crucial matchups on the horizon, the last thing they needed was their double double queen to push through and make things worse. LSU’s next stretch is brutal—Kentucky on Sunday, followed by Alabama and Ole Miss. Mulkey summed it up perfectly, “She’s got a tough body, but just rest it. Let the bruise get better.”

And she made the right decision. The squad handled business without her. 

Without Aneesah Morrow, LSU pushed through and delivered

Sure, losing your star rebounder and second-leading scorer could have been a problem, but LSU found a way. They didn’t shoot particularly well, converting just 38% from the field through three quarters, but they dominated the glass and got to the free-throw line.

Jersey Wolfenbarger, who stepped in for Morrow, absolutely showed out. The 6-foot-5 junior, who was averaging just 3.9 rebounds per game before this, exploded for 16 points and 12 boards. Meanwhile, Sa’Myah Smith also took advantage of the opportunity, putting up 12 points and 12 rebounds for her own double-double.

And we can’t forget Flau’jae Johnson, who led the team with 21 points, three steals, and two assists, or Kailyn Gilbert, who came off the bench to drop 15 points. LSU had five players in double figures, proving they’ve got depth even when Morrow isn’t on the floor.

Coach Mulkey was all praise, saying, “For these two guys (Sa’Myah and Jersey) to have double-doubles in her absence has to build their confidence. God works in mysterious ways.”

Although Tigers could have taken control earlier in the game, better late than never. In the third quarter, the team took 12 trips to the free-throw line, and Big 4 capped it off with a ridiculous halfcourt buzzer-beater to extend the lead to 13. That shot was a dagger. Georgia never recovered, and LSU pulled away in the fourth, sealing the deal and avoiding what could’ve been an upset.

While LSU handled business without Aneesah Morrow, make no mistake, they need her. She’s been a game-changer all season, averaging 18.1 points and leading the nation with 14.4 rebounds per game. Her ability to create second-chance opportunities has been a huge factor in LSU’s success.

Against Kentucky, they’ll need her presence on the boards, her scoring, and just her overall impact on the game. The Tigers got by without her once, but it’s good to know their star is back just in time.