BATON ROUGE, La. — In a noteworthy matchup, Aneesah Morrow put forth an impressive performance with 21 points and 14 rebounds, propelling No. 6 LSU to a 73-63 win against Auburn on Sunday.
Morrow, a senior standout leading the NCAA in rebounds with an average of 14 per game and 15 double-doubles, played a crucial role in keeping the Tigers unbeaten with a stellar record of 17-0 and 2-0 in SEC play, marking the second-best start in the program’s history.
Auburn’s efforts were led by DeYona Gaston who managed to score 16 points in just 16 minutes of play despite being hampered by fouls for a significant portion of the game. LSU’s contributions were rounded out by Kailyn Gilbert, who came off the bench to add 17, while Flau’Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams chipped in 12 and 10 points respectively.
In terms of game dynamics, Auburn struggled against LSU’s defensive strategy which effectively curtailed Gaston’s contribution, particularly in the earlier quarters. She managed to score most of her points in the final quarter, finishing strong but unable to make an influential impact throughout the game. The lack of defensive support from Gaston allowed LSU to dominate in the paint, outscoring Auburn 44-30.
For LSU, the contributions from transfer guards Gilbert and Mjracle Sheppard proved vital. Gilbert’s one-on-one offensive prowess provided significant momentum in the second and third quarters, and Sheppard’s tenacious defense challenged Auburn’s perimeter players, creating additional opportunities for her team.
A pivotal moment in the contest occurred when LSU, trailing 16-11 at the end of the first quarter, responded with a commanding 27-8 run in the second quarter to establish a 38-24 lead at halftime. Gilbert alone managed to outscore Auburn’s total in that quarter with 11 points.
A striking statistic from the matchup was LSU’s struggle from beyond the arc, going 0-for-6 on three-point attempts, marking the first time this season that the Tigers finished a game without scoring from long range.
Looking ahead, Auburn is set to host Arkansas on Thursday, while LSU will travel to face No. 15 Tennessee in another challenging SEC encounter.
