GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In an exciting matchup, Mikaylah Williams led the charge with 22 points, while Aneesah Morrow recorded her 18th double-double of the season, contributing significantly to No. 5-ranked LSU’s impressive 80-63 win over Florida on Sunday. The game took place in front of a star-studded audience, which notably included former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal, who was there to support his daughter, Florida freshman Me’Arah O’Neal. Although Me’Arah did not score in the game, she managed to grab seven rebounds and incurred four fouls.
LSU, now boasting an unbeaten record of 20-0 and a perfect 5-0 in the Southeastern Conference, demonstrated their resilience after trailing by six points at the end of the first quarter. The Tigers rallied to outscore the Gators by ten points in the second quarter and added another seven in the third, establishing a lead that the home team could not recover from. LSU took control of the game in the fourth quarter, igniting a dominant period by scoring the first 17 points, which effectively sealed their victory.
Aneesah Morrow’s performance was a standout, finishing the game with 20 points and 10 rebounds, marking her 92nd career double-double. This remarkable statistic ties her with former Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu for the second-most career double-doubles in NCAA women’s basketball history, only trailing behind Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris.
For Florida, Liv McGill emerged as the top scorer, netting 21 points. However, despite a respectable game, the Gators struggled to maintain consistency overall. They put together a commendable first half and managed to out-rebound LSU by 44-38, yet they found it challenging to keep pace with the Tigers as the game progressed.
A standout moment throughout the game was the presence of Shaquille O’Neal, who drew the attention of fans from both teams, eager to capture a picture with the basketball legend. He departed the arena late in the fourth quarter while the outcome was already determined.
A critical statistic from this match reveals that Florida committed 24 turnovers, with the majority being a result of LSU’s aggressive defensive strategy.
Looking ahead, LSU will face its toughest challenge yet as they head to South Carolina on Thursday, while Florida will travel to Auburn for their next game the following Sunday.
