LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mikaylah Williams showcased her talent by scoring 15 of her total 24 points in the second half, helping No. 7 LSU complete a remarkable comeback from a 16-point deficit to secure a 65-58 victory over No. 14 Kentucky on Sunday.
The Tigers, with a strong record of 27-2 and 12-2 in the Southeastern Conference, found themselves behind, with the Wildcats leading 38-22 in the first half. However, LSU dominated the third quarter, outscoring Kentucky 23-6. The final quarter was intense, featuring four lead changes, but Williams sealed the game with a crucial 3-pointer with just 50 seconds remaining on the clock.
Georgia Amoore topped the scoring list for Kentucky, contributing 16 points, but struggled with her shooting, making just 6 out of 22 attempts, including a disappointing 3 out of 15 from three-point range. On the other hand, LSU’s leading scorer, Flau’Jae Johnson, managed to record 13 points and collect 13 rebounds, despite being held back by Kentucky’s defensive efforts.
This victory was significant for LSU’s coach, Kim Mulkey, marking her 750th career win, and it also ensured that LSU secured a top-four seed in the upcoming Southeastern Conference Tournament.
In the second half, the Tigers ramped up their game intensity. Following a halftime score of 38-26, both Johnson and Williams made quick contributions with two baskets right after the break, forcing the Wildcats into turnovers and securing multiple offensive rebounds.
Kentucky faced additional challenges, including foul issues that limited their starters. Dazia Lawrence and Clara Strack were forced into foul trouble, picking up their third fouls early in the third quarter. Teonni Key’s playtime was also restricted to just three minutes in the first half due to early fouls.
A critical statistic highlighted that after allowing 11 offensive rebounds in the first half, LSU made a remarkable turnaround, securing 10 offensive rebounds themselves and limiting Kentucky to a shooting performance of 8-for-28 along with forcing nine turnovers in that same period. LSU ended up dominating the rebounding battle, outpacing Kentucky 27-16 during the second half.
Looking forward, LSU will head to Alabama on Thursday, while Kentucky will prepare to face No. 15 Tennessee at home on the same day.
