Basketball games are often won consistently, but sometimes a single explosive quarter can seal the deal.
LSU’s women’s basketball team had a slow start but came alive in the final stretch, securing a strong 79-63 win against Georgia. Despite early offensive struggles, the Tigers ultimately found their rhythm in the fourth quarter, proving why they remain one of the top teams in the country.
Flau’Jae Johnson Leads LSU to Victory
Flau’Jae Johnson was the difference-maker for No. 7 LSU, leading her team with 21 points, including three crucial three-pointers. One of those deep shots came from nearly 40 feet away, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Her dominant performance was highlighted in a post from the Women’s Hoops Network on X:
Flau’jae Johnson tonight 🔥
• 21 points
• 3 steals— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) February 21, 2025
Johnson wasn’t the only contributor, as LSU saw strong performances across the board. Sa’Myah Smith tallied 11 points along with 12 rebounds, while Mikaylah Williams added 12 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Kailyn Gilbert came off the bench to score 15, accounting for nearly all of LSU’s bench points.
Despite their shooting inconsistencies, Coach Kim Mulkey praised her team’s resilience, especially Johnson and Mikaylah.
“If you look at Flau’jae and Mikaylah, they didn’t shoot the ball particularly well by their standards,” Mulkey said. “I’ll just tell them what I always do: ‘Keep shooting, keep shooting.’ Just get to the rim. Make stuff happen.'”
The Tigers had several opportunities to take control early but faced shooting woes that kept Georgia within reach. LSU’s offense struggled through multiple droughts, missing nine of their last 10 shots in the first quarter. Another cold stretch in the second quarter saw them fail to convert on nine consecutive field-goal attempts.
Despite these setbacks, they managed to take a 37-30 lead into halftime.
The momentum shifted in the third quarter as LSU capitalized on trips to the free-throw line, earning 12 attempts in that period alone. The highlight of the game came when Johnson sank a deep three-pointer at the buzzer, just a few feet inside half-court, extending LSU’s lead to 13.
That moment set the tone for the final frame, where the Tigers closed out the game with a dominant scoring stretch, shutting down any hopes of a Georgia comeback.
Under Coach Mulkey, LSU has been a powerhouse, rarely losing back-to-back games. The team’s ability to bounce back from in-game struggles has been key to maintaining its top-10 ranking.
Johnson Gets Support From Alexis Ohanian
Off the court, Johnson received encouragement from Alexis Ohanian, entrepreneur and husband of tennis legend Serena Williams.
Johnson took to Instagram to share her thoughts on overcoming challenges and opening up about facing criticism, stereotypes, and negativity.
View this post on Instagram
“Just because I carry it well doesn’t mean it ain’t heavy,” she wrote, reflecting on the mental toll of public scrutiny.
Ohanian showed his support by sharing her post with the caption:
“Keep going @flaujae.”
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Johnson acknowledged his encouragement by reposting the story with a simple but enthusiastic response:
“Yessiirrr!!!”
LSU will look to build on this victory as they continue their push toward postseason play, with Johnson playing a crucial role in their pursuit of championship success.
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