LSU's explosive offense shattered Oklahoma's streak, ending the Sooners' SEC Championship hopes
GREENVILLE, S.C. - In a dominant display of offensive firepower and defensive tenacity, the No. 6 LSU Tigers women's basketball team cruised to a convincing 112-78 victory over the No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Friday at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
This emphatic win marked LSU's fifth straight victory and propelled them into the semifinals, where they will face the top-seeded and three-time defending champion South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday.LSU's balanced attack was on full display throughout the contest.
Guard MiLaysia Fulwiley led the way with a game-high 22 points, complemented by eight assists that showcased her playmaking ability and vision on the floor. She set the tone early, draining a buzzer-beating runner at the end of the first quarter to give the Tigers a 28-19 lead after shooting an impressive 57% from the field in the opening period.
Fulwiley's all-around performance helped orchestrate LSU's fluid offense, which consistently found open looks and capitalized on transition opportunities.Senior Flau'jae Johnson provided a significant second-half surge, pouring in 16 of her 21 points after the break.
Her scoring outburst included a key three-pointer followed by a fast-break layup converted into a three-point play, pushing the lead to 30 points and igniting a decisive run.
In the process, Johnson surpassed the 2,000-career point milestone, joining an elite group as only the sixth player in LSU history to achieve this feat. Her veteran presence and clutch shooting—hitting four three-pointers—proved pivotal in turning a competitive game into a rout.
Supporting contributions came from Mikaylah Williams with 14 points and Jada Richard adding 13, as 10 Tigers found their way into the scoring column. LSU's efficiency was remarkable: they shot 53% from the field overall and an outstanding 54% (13-of-24) from beyond the arc.
The Tigers' unselfish ball movement and sharp perimeter shooting overwhelmed Oklahoma's defense, leading to a barrage of points that set a program record for the most scored in an SEC Tournament game.
Defensively, LSU was relentless, holding the Sooners to just 36% shooting from the field while forcing 22 turnovers. Those miscues translated into 35 points off turnovers for the Tigers, highlighting their opportunistic pressure and ability to disrupt Oklahoma's rhythm.
The game featured a staggering 53 total fouls (27 on Oklahoma, 26 on LSU) and 53 free throws attempted combined, with Oklahoma going 21-of-28 at the line. Two Sooners—Raegan Beers and Brooklyn Stewart—fouled out, while starters Aaliyah Chavez and Sahara Williams each picked up four fouls, limiting their impact in crucial stretches.
For Oklahoma (now 24-7), the loss snapped a seven-game winning streak that dated back to February 12. Despite the defeat, the Sooners showed resilience with freshman Aaliyah Chavez leading the way with 20 points, including a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.
This performance extended her impressive streak, pushing her past the previous school record (previously noted around 59-60 consecutive makes in recent reports) as she continues chasing the NCAA mark of 75.
Chavez added three assists and two rebounds in the effort. Sahara Williams contributed 19 points and nine rebounds, falling just short of her 11th career double-double, and has been heating up in March with strong averages of 14.4 points and 8.4 rebounds over her last five games before this contest.
Oklahoma's resume remains strong heading into the NCAA Tournament, with 13 wins over NET top-100 teams and six Quad 1 victories.
The program was projected as a No. 12 overall seed (3-seed line) with hosting rights for early rounds, per the NCAA Committee's March 1 update. Selection Sunday looms on March 15, with top-16 host sites to be announced Saturday, March 14.
While the quarterfinal exit stings, the Sooners' body of work positions them well for a deep March run.