LSU’s undefeated streak was “this close” to coming to an end at Tennessee, and if not for Kailyn Gilbert’s heroics, right now, we might be talking about the Lady Tigers’ first loss of the season. But here they are, still standing at 18-0. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt is heading into enemy territory with a 14-3 overall but a 1-2 in the SEC.

Just coming off two tough conference losses, they can’t afford to slip up again. Moreover, the team hasn’t beaten LSU since 2017 and hasn’t won in Baton Rouge since 2004. So, it’s safe to say that this Monday’s matchup is a pretty big deal for both teams. Both come with their own set of strengths and weaknesses; what’s going to happen? We’ll see. First, though, let’s look at the injury report and predicted starting lineup. 

Injuries and lineups: Who’s In and who’s out?

Both teams are mostly healthy, but Vanderbilt’s Sacha Washington is out for the season due to a blood clot in her leg. For LSU, Izzy Besselman has been sidelined with a heart condition since the very beginning of the season. 

About starting lineups, here’s what we’re looking at:

LSU:

• Jersey Wolfenbarger (#8)
• Aneesah Morrow (#24)
• Mikaylah Williams (#12)
• Flau’Jae Johnson (#4)
• Shayeann Day-Wilson (#50)

Vanderbilt:

• Khamil Pierre (#12)
• Jane Nwaba (#10)
• Mikayla Blakes (#1)
• Iyana Moore (#23)
• Jordyn Oliver (#11)

Both squads bring firepower, but Vanderbilt’s depth is a little… lacking. The Commodores rely heavily on Khamil Pierre and Mikayla Blakes to do the heavy lifting, and if either falters or gets into foul trouble—it could spell disaster.

Can Kim Mulkey’s LSU capitalize on Vanderbilt’s defensive woes, or will Commodores’ duo shine?

Defense isn’t Vanderbilt’s strong suit. The Commodores have allowed at least 60 points in six straight games. And sure, they’re good at forcing steals, but beyond that? Not much to write home about. Opposing teams are shooting 40% from beyond the arc in SEC play against Shea Ralph & Co., the third-worst mark in the conference. 

Even Ole Miss and Kentucky, who aren’t exactly known for their three-point prowess, had big games against them. And with sharpshooters like Aneesah Morrow and Flau’ jae Johnson, the Lady Tigers can exploit that weak perimeter defense. 

But Vanderbilt’s guard-forward tandem of Blakes (guard) and Pierre (forward) is no joke. Blakes is averaging 20.4 points per game, while Pierre is putting up 22 on 56.5% shooting. They’re one of the top duos in the SEC and can put a lot of pressure on defenses. LSU hasn’t faced a guard-forward combo quite like this yet.

However, what gives an edge to the Tigers is that they have Mikaylah Williams. Last year’s SEC Freshman of the Year is averaging 15.9 points and 4.3 rebounds. So, LSU has the edge on paper. But we know for a fact that games aren’t played on paper. Although the prediction leans heavily in Kim Mulkey & Co.’s favor, anything can happen. Tune in at 6 p.m. CT on Monday on SEC Network and find out!