KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In a thrilling finish, Kailyn Gilbert scored a layup with just one second remaining, granting No. 6 LSU an 89-87 victory against No. 16 Tennessee on Thursday night.
Tennessee’s Zee Spearman had an opportunity to tie the game but missed a short jumper that could have sent it into overtime. The Lady Vols, now sitting at 13-2 overall and 1-2 in the Southeastern Conference, have suffered two close losses in a span of five days against top-10 ranked opponents.
A standout for the Tigers (18-0, 3-0) was Aneesah Morrow, who delivered an impressive performance with 23 points and 21 rebounds. Gilbert contributed 22 points, while Flau’Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams added 20 and 16 points respectively.
For Tennessee, Jewel Spear shone brightly with 25 points, and Talaysia Cooper closely followed with 24 points. The Lady Vols managed to make a strong comeback after trailing by 18 points during the second quarter. Additional contributions came from Ruby Whitehorn and Samara Spencer, who each scored 10 points.
Morrow accomplished a double-double by halftime, recording 19 points and 10 rebounds, which was pivotal in helping LSU secure a 46-39 lead at the break. Johnson’s performance also included 11 points before halftime.
Coach Kim Caldwell of Tennessee has consistently pointed out the team’s rebounding challenges. In their recent one-point defeat to No. 10 Oklahoma, the Lady Vols were outrebounded 42-33 while also committing 18 turnovers, adding to their frustrations.
A critical moment in the game unfolded with less than two minutes left on the clock when LSU was trailing 84-82. Johnson executed a three-point play, followed by two crucial defensive stops, enabling Williams to score another layup that pushed the Tigers ahead 87-84.
Interestingly, LSU’s strategy involved minimal attempts from beyond the arc, with the team only taking eight three-point shots throughout the game, successfully sinking just one.
Looking ahead, LSU is set to host Vanderbilt on Monday, while Tennessee prepares for a matchup at Arkansas on Sunday.
