The No. 2 seed Texas Longhorns will take on the No. 3 seed LSU Tigers in the SEC Tournament on Saturday, with a place in the final at stake. The LSU women’s basketball team made history on Friday, scoring a record 101 points in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals win over Florida.
The 101-92 victory advances the Tigers to the semifinals, where they’ll face off against Texas on Saturday night.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey has been away from the team due to a family bereavement. Although she rejoined the team on Friday, associate head coach Bob Starkey led the team against Florida. It’s unclear whether Mulkey is expected to return as head coach against Texas, or if Starkey will continue to lead the team.
Last Meeting Between Texas and LSU
LSU put on a strong defensive display in their last meeting with Texas. They held Texas to just 19 points in the first half and limited star player Madison Booker to 3-of-17 shooting. However, Texas’s defense proved to be a major obstacle for LSU.
Despite their strong defensive performance, LSU struggled to build a significant lead and ultimately lost 65-58. The Tigers’ shooting woes in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter, allowed Texas to come back and take the lead.
If they’re to stand any chance of beating the Longhorn this time, they will need to limit Madison Booker’s scoring and avoid putting her on the free-throw line, where she helped Texas stage a comeback last time. The Tigers must also improve their shooting efficiency, especially in the second half, to have a better chance of securing the win.
Players To Watch
Texas
Madison Booker: Leading scorer for Texas, averaging 16.0 points per game over the last 10 games.
LSU
Mikaylah Williams: 17.4 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.8 made 3-pointers per game, while shooting 38.2% from beyond the arc.
Aneesah Morrow: 17.3 points per game over the last 10 games, while shooting an impressive 42.6%.
Recent Form
Texas Longhorns: 10-0, averaging 69.2 points, 34.4 rebounds, 16.8 assists, 8.3 steals, and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44% from the field. However, their opponents have averaged 54.5 points per game.
LSU Tigers: 7-3, averaging 80.6 points, 36.4 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 8.7 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.8% from the field. On the other hand, their opponents have averaged 75.0 points per game.
KEEP READING: Will Kim Mulkey Return for the SEC Tournament Semifinals? Latest Update on LSU Coach
What’s at Stake
The winner of this game will advance to the SEC Tournament championship, for a chance to secure the conference title. Both teams are already NCAA Tournament-bound, but a conference title would boost their seeding and momentum heading into March Madness.
Score Prediction
Texas 81, LSU 68
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