The LSU Tigers fell 79-72 to the South Carolina Gamecocks after having the opportunity to take a lead in the final minute.
The LSU Tigers will have to wait longer to break their losing streak against the South Carolina Gamecocks, as a rowdy PMAC was left upset after a 79-72 Gamecocks win.
This game was pure drama down the stretch. Flau'jae Johnson was taking over near the end. She had seven points, four offensive rebounds and an assist in the fourth-quarter alone.
It was the plays that she didn't make that cost them the game. She had a chance to put LSU up by one point in the final minute of the game, but missed two free throws. She missed a game-tying three-pointer with 20 seconds left.
This loss is not, by any means, only on Johnson. She will almost certainly feel the full weight of it on her shoulders.
Mikaylah Williams is someone who the Tigers needed much more from. She's expected to step up in these games and, outside of a hot start, she did not. Williams was just 1-for-6 in the second half.
Jada Richard had been playing well, but was 1-of-10 from the field in this game.
The biggest decider for this game was the charity stripe. LSU was just 14-of-23 from the line while South Carolina was 15-of-17.
There were other things. Madina Okot was unstoppable on the boards, finishing with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Tessa Johnson and Raven Johnson combined for 7-of-10 from deep. Those free throws were the main difference maker.
Gamecocks star Joyce Edwards was even kept in check. Averaging 20.3 points, she scored just 10 in this game.
This game was circled for Tigers guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who transferred over from the Gamecocks before the season. As a South Carolina native, that was obviously a big decision.
Fulwiley had four steals, a block, four rebounds and three assists that all came in big moments. She was even 4-for-4 on her free throws. She finished with six points on 1-for-8 from the field, not the performance she hoped for.
Someone who can have her head held high, though, is Bella Hines. She had about as impactful of six minutes as possible. She didn't have a career-high, but this might have been her biggest performance yet with the Tigers.
Hines finished with six points and a rebound at a time when Mulkey went to her out of desperation. LSU's offense was completely stagnant, and South Carolina was building up a commanding lead. The freshman guard brought the Tigers back to life.
A small, but extremely important impact on this game. LSU was +5 in her minutes.