The matchup between LSU women’s basketball and Tennessee was billed as a can’t-catch-your-breath fast-paced track meet.
It lived up to the chatter as heads turned all night as the No. 4 Tigers and No. 15 Lady Vols traded runs, cutting to the basket as a high clip and putting up a plethora of 3s in transition.
Thanks to forced turnovers and offensive efficiency off of them, LSU was able to jump out to an 18-point advantage in the second quarter. While Tennessee made a few runs, including taking the lead twice in the fourth, that early lead was enough cushion for Kim Mulkey’s squad inside Thompson-Boling Arena and the Tigers weathered the storm, 89-87, Thursday night in Knoxville.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey has guided the Tigers to three straight games over Tennessee in Knoxville, just the second SEC team ever (Mississippi State) do so.
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Kailyn Gilbert sinks Tennessee Lady Vols’ hopes with last-second layup
LSU inbounded the ball with 21 ticks left and junior guard Kailyn Gilbert took her time before sprinting her way to the basket. She went up-and-under and for the second time this season to make a game-winning layup.
Gilbert was superb for the Tigers against Tennessee, recording 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, along with five rebounds.
LSU women’s basketball beats Tennessee Lady Vols at their own game
Coming into the game, one of the main features of first-year Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell’s system is forcing a bevy of turnovers from teams and immediately cashing those miscues into points.
But it was LSU that lived in that lane. The Tigers caused the Lady Vols to turn the ball over nine times and scored 13 points off those turnovers. Led by star Flau’jae Johnson and reserve Mjracle Sheppard, LSU had six steals as LSU’s defense prevented the Lady Vols from getting out and running as much as they like.
Kim Mulkey runs guard-heavy lineup to counter Kim Caldwell, Lady Vols’ system
Senior point guard Shayeann Day-Wilson was injected back into the starting lineup as Mulkey knew her team taking the best possible care of the basketball was going to be paramount against Tennessee’s jump press. Senior guard Last-Tear Poa has started the past handful of games but at times, has had issues turning the ball over.
Gilbert, off the bench, played plenty of minutes as the four-guard in the four-guard combination that played majority of the game. Four guards matched with star forward Aneesah Morrow, who was menace to the Lady Vols all night, neutralizing how Tennessee operates.
The switch paid off for the most part for LSU, who only coughed the ball up eight times. And the Tigers were still able to outrebound the Lady Vols 46 to 38.
Aneesah Morrow hits career mark in LSU win over Tennessee Lady Vols
Morrow recorded her 16th double-double on the season before halftime at Tennessee. She finished the game with 23 points and 21 rebounds.
But with a bucket in the second quarter, Morrow scored her 2,500th career point. Morrow has been an efficient player in her career that spans two seasons at DePaul before the past two seasons with LSU.
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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU women’s basketball weathers storm to outlast Tennessee Lady Vols
