Advancing to the Sweet 16 in Sacramento, California, LSU women’s basketball defeated Texas Tech 101-47 and broke the national record for the most 100-point games in a single season. The defensive shutout was the final dance in the PMAC for the seniors.
“That’s what you hope happens when they play their last game in a home arena,” head coach Kim Mulkey said.
LSU took the court on Sunday afternoon in Round 2 of March Madness against the Texas Tech Raiders, and this game held a little bit more weight for senior Flau’jae Johnson.
The stands were packed in purple and gold, and an energy was brewing among the fans that something special would happen in the PMAC. Almost every fan was given a simple piece of paper that read “4 Feaux,” and Johnson had no problem shining bright for an almost sold-out crowd.
She delivered yet another standout performance with 24 points, going 4-for-5 on the free throw line and grabbing four rebounds. As Johnson stepped off the court toward the end of the game, tears streamed down her face and an entire fan base felt not only her impact on the team but also on the community. She’s leaving a legacy behind as she checked out for one last time.
“It was like a roar I heard in that PMAC, and I was like ‘wow,’” Johnson said. “It was the most beautiful thing I’ve been a part of. I will remember it forever. Just so thankful for the fans, thankful for Coach Mulkey, the whole program, it’s unimaginable.”
From the jump, the Raiders were a physically demanding team, the type that LSU had seen only a handful of times so far this season, but the Tigers had no problem meeting those demands.
The noise was deafening, and with every play, good or bad, a very animated Mulkey was there to ensure that her team battled against an on-par Raiders defense. It took over four minutes for Texas Tech to get on the board, and it was a dog fight on that end for the duration of the game.
LSU took the lead early, but faced some trouble from Texas Tech’s Bailey Maupin, who landed three 3-pointers in the game. The Red Raiders were more aggressive from three, with 36 attempts compared to LSU’s 18 attempts.
Some questionable calls by the game officials seemed to only amplify the Tigers’ determination to keep dancing into the Sweet 16.
At the start of the second, the crowd was louder than ever before, and the Tigers were on the prowl to put the game out of reach after ending the first half with a 45-27 score.
LSU came together under the pressure of a very physically demanding team, using it to its advantage. The Tigers took the chance to get to the free-throw line.
Any offensive struggles LSU might’ve had against the physical defense were negated by its effectiveness at the stripe, where it ended the game with an efficient 92.3% free throw rate.
The capitalized on the Raiders’ offensive fouls to take the lead and run up the score, grabbing yet another win by over 50 points.
Electric was the only word to describe not only the atmosphere but also the Tigers’ play.
“Well, there are a lot of good teams left,” Mulkey said. “We did play well these two games, but the deeper you go in the tournament, the tougher it gets.”
LSU is slated to face three-seed Duke in the Sweet 16 after the Blue Devils won their game against Baylor on Saturday.
“It’s hard to beat people twice,” Mulkey said. “They’re better, I’m sure, and I think we are better. And so many moments right now are to make sure everyone in Baton Rouge and this state understands that, and at LSU, don’t take that stuff for granted.”
A team that was already on its A-game became unstoppable with the added contributions of several freshmen in Grace Knox, Bella Hines and Zakiyah Johnson, mixed with what the veterans did.
LSU practically snatched every rebound available, stacking on nearly double the rebounds the Raiders had. LSU also applied immense defensive pressure, led by Amiya Joyner, who made an impact from the second she stepped on the court.
There was no doubt LSU would win the game before the final buzzer sounded.
As the final seconds of the clock ticked down, the Tigers said goodbye to Baton Rouge and hello to the Sweet 16 in Sacramento.
