LSU
LSU Tigers Logo
Mobile Menu Button
  • Sports
      • Baseball
        • Tickets
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Basketball - Men's
        • Tickets
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Basketball - Women's
        • Tickets
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Beach Volleyball
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Cross Country
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Football
        • Tickets
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Golf - Men's
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Golf - Women's
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram

      • Gymnastics
        • Tickets
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Soccer
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Softball
        • Tickets
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Swimming & Diving
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Tennis - Men's
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Tennis - Women's
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Track & Field
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
      • Volleyball
        • Tickets
        • Schedule
        • Roster
          • icon-facebook
          • icon-twitter
          • icon-instagram
  • Tickets
      • Purchase Tickets

        Single Game Season Group
      • Baseball
        • Single Game Single Game
        • Season Season
        • Group Group
      • Basketball - Men's
        • Single Game Single Game
        • Season Season
        • Group Group
      • Basketball - Women's
        • Single Game Single Game
        • Season Season
        • Group Group
      • Football
        • Single Game Single Game
        • Season Season
        • Group Group
      • Gymnastics
        • Single Game Single Game
        • Season Season
        • Group Group
      • Softball
        • Single Game Single Game
        • Season Season
        • Group Group
      • Volleyball
        • Single Game Single Game
        • Season Season
        • Group Group
      • Manage

        Single Game Season Group
      • Buy Tickets
      • My Account
      • Renew Tickets
      • Student Tickets
      • Seating Charts
      • StubHub
      • Ticket Forwarding
      • Account Transfer
      • Promo Code
      • Information

        Single Game Season Group
      • Ticket Central
      • Group Tickets
      • Mobile Tickets
      • ONEpass
      • Premium Seating
      • Priority Point System
      • Request Ticket Info
    • LSU
  • Fans
        • GENERAL

        • Autograph Requests
        • Appearance Requests
        • Bayou Brew
        • Booster Clubs
        • Calendar
        • Camps & Clinics
        • Geaux-Mail
        • Mike's Kids Club
        • Mobile Apps
        • Posters
        • Social Media
        • Tours
        • WATCH & LISTEN

        • Listen Live
        • LSU GOLD
        • Watch On-Demand
        • Coaches Shows
        • Podcasts
        • Radio Network & Affiliates
        • SEC Network
        • TV Network & Affiliates
  • GameDay
        • Information

        • GameDay Central
        • Directions
        • Parking & Traffic
        • Seating Charts
        • Tailgating & Policies
        • Geaux Safe Bag Policy
        • Tiger One Village
        • Game Programs
        • Facilities

        • Facilities Home
        • Tiger Stadium
        • Maravich Center
        • Alex Box Stadium
        • Tiger Park
        • LSU Beach Volleyball Stadium
        • Bernie Moore Stadium
        • Maddox Field House
        • LSU Soccer Stadium
        • LSU Tennis Complex
        • LSU Natatorium
        • The University Club
        • Team Facilities

        • Bilyeu LSU Golf Practice Facility
        • Gymnastics Training Center
        • Marucci Baseball Performance Center
        • Mike Moore Softball Performance Center
  • About
        • Departments

        • Academic Center
        • - Project Graduation
        • Athletics Council
        • Compliance
        • Event Management
        • Faculty Representative
        • LSU Sports Properties
        • LSUshop.net
        • LSU SportShop
        • National L Club
        • Performance Nutrition
        • Spirit Squads
        • Sports Medicine
        • Staff Directory
        • Tiger Athletic Foundation
        • History

        • Colors & Songs of LSU
        • Hall of Fame
        • Mike VII (Live Tiger)
        • NCAA Championships
        • SEC Championships
        • Olympians
        • Initiatives & More

        • Brand Guidelines
        • Community
        • Core Values
        • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
        • Healthy Tiger
        • NILSU
        • Student Employment
        • Tiger Life
        • Tiger Racquet Club
        • LSU.edu
        • LSU.com (Licensing)
        • LSU Alumni Association
  • GIVE
        • Tiger Athletic Foundation

        • Donate
        • Sign In
        • Become a Member
        • TAF Homepage
        • Give to a Fund

        • Team TAF Annual Fund
        • The Oaks
        • Booster Clubs and Excellence Funds
  • Presented By Image
LSU Gold
Shop
  • Top Sellers
  • New Arrivals
  • Men's
  • Women's
  • Hats
  • Jerseys
  • Shoes
  • T-Shirts
  • Gameday & Tailgate
  • Clearance
Youth Colosseum Max Tank Top
Youth Colosseum Max Tank Top $27.99 Shop Now
Open Search
  • Open Profile Menu
    • Tickets Account
    • Team Store Account
    • Email Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • Mobile Icon Link
  • Mobile Icon Link
  • Mobile Icon Link
Women's Basketball
  • Roster
  • Schedule
  • Tickets
  • Stats
      • Current Stats
      • 2022-23 Team Stats (.pdf)
      • Stats Archive
      • SEC Stats
      • NCAA Stats
  • Fast Break Club
  • More
      • News
      • Coaches
      • Coaches Shows
      • Facilities
      • Game Notes
      • Listen Free
      • Live Stats
      • Parking & Traffic
      • Photo Galleries
      • Record Book
      • SEC Standings
      • Social Media
      • Tigers in the WNBA
      • Tigers in the WNBA Draft
      • Youth Camps
February 12, 2023 - 03:06 PM

No. 3 LSU Drops First Game At No. 1 South Carolina, 88-64

Box Score (.pdf) Photos +0
No. 3 LSU Drops First Game At No. 1 South Carolina, 88-64
Share
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Game #1

COLUMBIA, S.C. —In a matchup of the nation’s final two unbeaten teams, No. 3 LSU (23-1, 11-1 SEC) fell behind early to No. 1 South Carolina (25-0, 12-0 SEC) and the Tigers punched back, but ultimately South Carolina pulled away Sunday in a sold-out Colonial Life Arena, 88-64.

It marked South Carolina’s 31st consecutive win as the Tigers 23-game win streak came to an end. After falling behind quickly in the first quarter, 18-2, LSU clawed to get back in the game to bring the score within three points halfway through the second quarter. The Gamecocks depth and size proved to be too much though as South Carolina prevented LSU from every gaining a lead, eventually pulling away from the Tigers.

“I’ll give my utmost respect and comments about how good they are, how big they are, how tall they are,” Coach Kim Mulkey said. “It’s South Carolina (at the top) in my opinion and everyone else and after playing them today my opinion on that has not changed. They have things that we don’t have and a lot of the teams in the country don’t have. We aspire to be there one day.” 

Alexis Morris led LSU with 23 points and 6 rebounds as her 15 first half points kept the Tigers in the contest. Morris was 4-5 in the second quarter and finished the afternoon shooting 38-percent from the field. Angel Reese was held for the first time this season without a double-double, ending her LSU record 23-game streak. She had 16 points and 4 rebounds.

LSU battled foul trouble early as both LaDazhia Williams and Flau’jae Johnson picked up two early fouls and were limited because of it. Sa’Myah Smith came in off the bench and played well as the freshman finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds and a block.

 Kamilla Cardoso came off the bench to earn her sixth double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Cardoso stands at 6’7” and used her size in the post to go 5-7 from the field. 

South Carolina had five players in double figures. ZiaCooke had 17, Brea Beal scored 11, and Raven Johnson had 10. The reigning national player of the year, Aliyah Boston, scored 14 points and hauled in 9 boards.

South Carolina won the battle on the boards, out rebounding the Tigers, 43-25. The Gamecocks also had five players finish scoring in double-figures and got contributions up and down their bench. With 46 bench points, South Carolina got over half of its offensive production coming from its non-starters.

“This is just one game,” Coach Mulkey explained. “There are goals we have, and we’ve got to take tomorrow off and get ready for Ole Miss. Be thankful that LSU was on this stage. Who in the world would have thought that we would be on this stage in year two of rebuilding the program?”

The Tigers will be back inside the PMAC later this week as they host Ole Miss on Thursday in the annual “Play4Kay” Pink Out Game. Tip-Off is slated for 8 p.m. CT and will be live on the SEC Network. 

Just over a minute into Sunday’s contest coach Mulkey was forced to call a timeout after South Carolina opened up with a 6-0 run, 3-3 all from inside the paint. South Carolina responded with 12 unanswered points as the Gamecocks shot 80-percent (8-10) from the field to open the quarter. The Tigers settled down and made it a 10-point game with a 6-0 run of their own. Two made free throws from Last-Tear Poa were capped off with a three-pointer from Morris to put LSU within six, 13-19. Morris scored the last bucket of the opening quarter with a pull-up jumper to make it 15-24 Gamecocks heading into the second. 

Morris led LSU with 7 points through the first ten minutes and Poa came off the bench to follow with 4 of her own. South Carolina went 10-15 from the field compared to LSU’s 6-17. Both Reese and Flau’jae Johnson ended the first with two fouls each. 

Morris utilized a high ball screen to score the Tigers first 8 points of the second quarter as LSU went on an 8-2 run to put the Tigers within five. Halfway through the second Morris accounted for all 10 of LSU’s second quarter points as she went 4-5 and was the only Tiger to shoot the ball. At the media timeout South Carolina held a 32-25 lead with four minutes before the break. With a minute remaining LSU had four players with multiple fouls, LaDahzia Williams and Sa’Myah Smith with 3. Reese finished with a big block over Victaria Saxton to head into halftime down by ten, 32-42. 

The Gamecocks were able to haul in ten more rebounds than the Tigers in the first half and only allowed LSU to get 3 boards on the offensive glass. Reese was held to 1-6 from the field in the first half and had just one rebound. Zia Cooke led South Carolina with 11 points and was followed by Aliyah Boston with 10. 

After giving up an early bucket LSU went on a 6-0 run and held South Carolina scoreless over two minutes of action. The Tigers opened up the half in a zone defense and were able to create opportunities off of the change. Reese brought it back within five (40-45) on a putback layup as she started to get comfortable. At the media timeout the Gamecocks held a nine-point lead with 3:40 left to play in the third. With just over a minute to play in the third Smith recorded her 4th team foul after playing valuable minutes in the third. Smith scored 4 points in the third as she battled in the post with Cardoso. South Carolina went 3 of its last 3 field goals and extended its lead to sixteen. 

South Carolina built on its lead through the final quarter. The Tigers were held to 16 points and 4 rebounds on 5-16 shooting. Cardoso scored 12 points in the fourth and added to a 77-percent shooting performance from the Gamecocks in the fourth quarter. South Carolina went on to win and remain undefeated on the season.

Audio Highlights

LSUsports · LSU Women’s Basketball at South Carolina – Audio Highlights

Related Stories

LSU To Meet Utah Friday In Sweet Sixteen
March 23, 2023

LSU To Meet Utah Friday In Sweet Sixteen

Inside LSU Sports - Episode 12 (2023)
March 22, 2023

Inside LSU Sports - Episode 12 (2023)

Morris and Reese Named WBCA All-America Regional Finalists
March 22, 2023

Morris and Reese Named WBCA All-America Regional Finalists

LSU THE OFFICIAL SITE OF LSU ATHLETICS
NCAA logo NCAA logo
SEC logo SEC logo

© LSU Athletics, Louisiana State University, 2023. All rights reserved. / Privacy Policy / Terms of Service / Brand Guidelines / NCAA Infractions Decision

Powered by WMT.digital
Skip To Main Content