LSU Women’s Basketball Shocks Nation: Record-Breaking Win Catapults Tigers to No. 1

Baton Rouge, La. – LSU women’s basketball saw its perfect season and 19-game home winning streak snapped on New Year’s Day when No. 11 Kentucky stunned the fifth-ranked Tigers 80-78 on a last-second three by Tonie Morgan. The upset drops Kim Mulkey’s squad to 14-1 overall and 0-1 in SEC play, setting up an early climb in a league race that already features unbeaten Texas and surging South Carolina. Key takeaways 1. Closing-time woes: LSU led for 78 percent of the night but managed just 13 fourth-quarter points while the Wildcats hit five threes, including Morgan’s dagger with 0.5 seconds left. 2. Mikaylah Williams’ breakout: The freshman guard poured in 26 points on 9-for-17 shooting and added eight boards, reinforcing her case as SEC Freshman of the Year frontrunner. 3. Paint dominance neutralized: The Tigers came in averaging a nation-best 53.4 paint points but were out-rebounded 45-29 and allowed Kentucky 16 second-chance points. 4. Clean but costly turnovers: LSU committed only eight miscues, yet two came in the final 90 seconds and directly fueled Kentucky’s 8-2 closing run. 5. SEC gauntlet ahead: LSU travels to Alabama on Thursday before hosting No. 2 Texas next Sunday, a pivotal stretch that will test the Tigers’ depth and late-game composure. Why it matters • National picture: LSU’s first blemish likely bumps the defending national champions out of the projected top-four NCAA regional seed line, raising the stakes for every remaining SEC matchup. • RPI & NET impact: The loss is neutral-site-equivalent under the NET because Kentucky is a quadrant-one opponent, but margin matters; surrendering an 12-point lead could dent efficiency metrics. • Recruiting optics: A white-hot PMAC atmosphere and Williams’ star turn were on full display before a national SEC Network audience, critical for Mulkey’s 2027 class that hosted multiple five-stars. What’s next • Short-week adjustments: Expect Mulkey to emphasize defensive rebounding in practice; sophomore forward Amiya Joyner (team-high 10 boards vs. UK) may see an expanded role. • Rotation watch: Senior sharpshooter Jada Richard played a season-low 19 minutes after missing Monday’s workout with the flu; her status will be monitored. • Milestone tracker: Flau’jae Johnson (1,242 career points) needs 18 more to pass Seimone Augustus for 15th on LSU’s all-time scoring list, a storyline sure to trend as the Tigers head to Tuscaloosa. Bottom line LSU remains an elite offensive force, but the Wildcats exposed rebounding and late-game execution issues that could haunt the Tigers in March. How quickly Mulkey’s group responds—starting with a revenge-minded trip to Alabama—will determine whether Baton Rouge is once again the epicenter of women’s college basketball this spring.