Kim Mulkey and the LSU Tigers had a lot to overcome heading into the SEC tournament. With their head coach absent due to a tragic loss in her family, the team navigated a high-pressure environment without her leadership for nearly a week.
However, the Tigers proved their resilience on the court, delivering a commanding 101-87 victory over Florida to advance in the tournament.
LSU Dominates Without Kim Mulkey’s Presence
Despite the challenges, LSU continued to display the intensity that has made them one of the most formidable teams in the conference. During the postgame press conference, Aneesah Morrow was asked about her performance and what aspects of her game plan worked well in the win.
“I would say I was kind of just being a little bit more calmer, letting the game come to me,” she said. “I feel like it showed tonight. I shot well from the field.”
Morrow stayed composed and executed efficiently, playing a crucial role in LSU’s offensive explosion. The Tigers moved the ball exceptionally well, creating high-percentage opportunities that kept Florida on their heels throughout the contest.
One key element of their success was ball reversals, which allowed them to execute their offensive sets and keep the Gators’ defense scrambling.
“Ball reversals, being able to execute—that’s one thing we did a lot tonight, executing offensively for our sets,” Morrow explained.
The emotional weight of playing without their head coach also fueled LSU’s motivation. Morrow acknowledged that the team has faced adversity all season and found strength in each other when needed.
“Sometimes we do feel like the odds are against us, and it’s important for us to have each other’s backs,” she said. “We’ve showed that all year, just being able to lift each other up and encourage each other. Sometimes we might be discouraged, but just being able to lean on your sisters makes a huge difference.”
When Mulkey returned to the team, she was asked about how the Tigers managed in her absence. Morrow quickly deflected any credit and instead emphasized the quality of the players and coaching staff.
“I think I’ll be given too much credit,” she said. “I’ve been blessed on these few times where I’ve had to take over to have a really, really good team. The better the players, the better the coach, and Coach M’s given me the blueprint.”
She also added:
“The practices were nothing different whether she was there or not. So, I really think the kids deserve the credit. They could have easily been distracted or used some of this as an excuse, and I was just really proud of how they responded.”
Mulkey also praised associate head coach Bob Starkey, who led the team in her absence.
“I want to talk about Bob Starkey, and I want you to print it, and I want you to print it big,” she said. “This man deserves to be in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. I’ve been begging them for years. We have two associate head coaches that are in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, but neither one of them ever took a team on an interim basis to a Final Four. This man has done that.”
She explained:
“He’s worked for Sue Gunter, he’s worked for Chancellor, he’s worked for tons of coaches. And for me to go take care of something personal for an entire week—I was where I was supposed to be.”
She continued to express her gratitude, stating:
“I told the president at Baylor years ago, if a decision has to be made between my family and basketball, that decision was made a long time ago. Bob had our team ready to play. They responded to him. They poured water all over him.”
LSU’s Record-Setting Performance in the SEC Tournament
The Tigers, entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed, wasted no time asserting their dominance against No. 11 Florida.
LSU’s relentless defensive pressure forced 13 first-half turnovers, which they converted into 19 points. By halftime, LSU had built a commanding lead, with turnovers as the key differentiator.
Aneesah Morrow played a pivotal role on both ends of the floor. She set a new LSU SEC tournament single-game record by scoring 36 points while adding 14 rebounds for her 27th double-double of the season. Her early steals set the defensive tone, and her scoring barrage kept the Tigers in control throughout the game.
LSU also made history by setting a program record for most points scored in an SEC tournament game, which speaks to the team’s efficiency and execution. Even without their leading scorer, Flau’jae Johnson, who was sidelined due to shin inflammation, the Tigers found a way to thrive.
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With their opening victory secured, LSU advanced to the SEC tournament semifinals, where they were set to face No. 2 seed Texas. Mulkey, now fully rejoined with the team, would be looking to guide her squad through the final stages of the tournament.
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