What Kim Mulkey said following LSU's blowout win over San Diego State in NCAA First Round

USA Today

24-03-2025

What Kim Mulkey said following LSU's blowout win over San Diego State in NCAA First Round
LSU women's basketball started the NCAA Tournament on a high note with a blistering 103-48 win over San Diego State on Saturday.
The team set a program record for points in an NCAA Tournament game, beating the previous high of 102 set in the 2023 National Championship game. Inside the PMAC, the No. 3-seeded Tigers jumped on top immediately, scoring the game's first 11 points and never looking back. Every available player saw the court by the third quarter.
Flau'Jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow didn't miss a beat after dealing with injuries. Johnson led all scorers with 22 points while Morrow posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. LSU shot 50% from the field and finished with six scorers in double figures.
Led by four from Johnson, LSU knocked down 10 of its 18 attempts from three-point range. Mikaylah Williams sank all three of her attempts while Shayeann Day-Wilson went three of four from beyond the arc. The senior point guard scored 11 points on four of five shooting against the Aztecs.
Here's what head coach Kim Mulkey had to say following her team's win
Unselfish play reigns supreme in win
Four players at three assists and three players had two in the win, which showcased the unselfish attitude LSU brought into its first-round game. Getting everyone involved led to a hot shooting performance and added confidence, especially for reserves.
"We had a lot of ball reversal. We shared the ball. We also have a talented team in that they don't have to share the ball sometimes. They can just take you off the dribble and we did some of that in spurts tonight, but I thought that everybody was excited. Everybody was excited for each other and everybody gets to play and contribute, they all go home feeling good."
Confidence in Morrow remains despite lack of points
Morrow practiced at full speed heading into Saturday's game and didn't need to deliver a standout statistical performance for LSU to come away with the win. Her game was a promising sign for Mulkey as the team heads into a tough contest against Florida State.
"I think Aneesah is hard on herself right now because she missed some shots that she doesn't normally miss."
"I said, 'those are great moves down there.' She was spinning down on the block and trying to go with her left hand and they'd rim in and out. Just keep shooting it."
Point guards impress Mulkey
Day-Wilson and starting point guard Last-Tear Poa played well in the eyes of Mulkey on Saturday. Each finished with one turnover apiece and, in addition to Williams, three assists. The trio stood out with their unselfish play in a game where 10 of 12 players saw 10 or more minutes.
"Mikaylah is the best passer we have, so she probably turned down a lot of shots tonight."
"Poa was very valuable and didn't score. She was the quarterback. She managed the game. She pushed it up the floor. She did what we asked her to do defensively and then Shy comes in to relieve her and had one of her better offensive games."
"More important than that is they didn't turn the ball over. They executed what we needed them to execute and I was proud of both of them."