Late collapse seals second SEC loss for the LSU Tigers. A Vanderbilt Commodores star exploded as LSU's offense sputtered, raising urgent questions for Kim Mulkey's squad.
It was a close game pretty much the whole way, but a late collapse led to the second straight loss by Kim Mulkey's LSU Tigers squad as they fell 65-61 to the Vanderbilt Commodores.
This is the biggest win in a long time for the Commodores, their first win against a top-five opponent since 2009, and it was all thanks to the efforts of star guard Mikayla Blakes. She had 32 points (49% of Vanderbilt's total). The Tigers had no answer.
LSU tried a new starting lineup that included MiLaysia Fulwiley after their previous loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, but the offense did not improve. Fulwiley and Jada Richard tied for the team lead in points at just 13.
It was really a night to forget for senior guard Flau'jae Johnson, who is supposed to be this team's star and leader. She was left scoreless all night with three rebounds and an assist to two turnovers. She was a -12 on the night and was taken off the court in crucial moments, playing just 19 minutes.
The Tigers did answer their poor performance on the boards in the last game, out-rebounding the Commodores 48-28. There was a crucial missed board late, giving Vanderbilt possession with a four-point lead with just over a minute and a half remaining.
LSU shot seven less threes and attempted half the free throws, which proved to really be the difference maker in a four-point loss.
This is not the start to conference play that Mulkey was hoping for and is proving the doubters from the easy non-conference schedule right so far. They haven't had to answer for many clutch moments so far this season and they've now come up short in back-to-back close games.
Someone is going to need to step up and take games over late for them like Blakes did for the Commodores. All eyes will go to Mikaylah Williams on that front.
The Tigers will have a lighter task in front of them for their next game in the Georgia Lady Bulldogs on the road on Thursday. After that, though, things pick up with two straight top-10 opponents. Mulkey and LSU will have to find a quick answer to their problems.