BATON ROUGE – If one were to go by the shot chart and number of attempts, one might assume LSU women’s basketball blew the doors off of Texas A&M.
No. 4 LSU had attempted 23 more shots than the visiting Aggies by halftime inside Pete Maravich Assembly Center Sunday afternoon. But the Tigers could only muster a 35-30 lead at the intermission. For the game, LSU put up 22 more field goal attempts.
As was one of the things that plagued Kim Mulkey’s team in the loss at South Carolina Friday night, those extra possessions and shots didn’t always equate to points. LSU amassed plenty of second chance opportunities but couldn’t convert and that allowed A&M to hang around all game.
LSU built a 12-point lead in the second quarter after A&M led the entire first. And despite the struggles scoring the ball, the Tigers’ defense was good enough to let be a cushion as they outlasted the Aggies, 64-51.
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LSU women’s basketball scoring struggles from South Carolina game rolls over vs Texas A&M
Mucking up the game is part of this Texas A&M team’s MO as coach Joni Taylor doesn’t have a pure scorer on her team.
LSU fell into how A&M dictates the game and the scoring struggles that doomed Mulkey’s team at South Carolina two days ago rolled over to the A&M matchup.
For the second straight game, the Tigers dominated the offensive glass, this time collecting 30 offensive rebounds but could only manage 18 second-chance points. In back-to-back games, LSU shot 32% or worse.
Junior star Flau’jae Johnson finished the game with a team-high 22 points while Aneesah Morrow saw her double-double streak come to an end with 19 points and nine rebounds.
Kim Mulkey closes out first half with LSU women’s basketball big 3 on bench
Sophomore center Aalyah Del Rosario checked into the game for Mikaylah Williams with 4:30 remaining in the second period. That produced a lineup of Del Rosario along with freshman point guard Jada Richard, Mjracle Sheppard, junior Sa’Myah Smith and Kailyn Gilbert.
The five without Johnson, Morrow and Williams went 1-for-10 from the field, a putback chance by Richard. Without the assumed offensive firepower from Mulkey’s big 3, the group played solid defense and kept A&M off balance, limiting the Aggies to 9 points.
LSU was outscored during that stretch 9 to 3.
Last-Tear Poa unavailable for LSU vs Texas A&M
Mulkey was going to be shorthanded against Texas A&M.
Per the SEC Network broadcast during the game, LSU senior guard Last-Tear Poa was unavailable to play Sunday. A specific reason was not given.
This is the fourth game Poa has missed this season as she missed three games earlier this season for undisclosed reasons.
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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 bounces back from first loss, outlasts Texas A&M
