BATON ROUGE — Talk amongst Kim Mulkey and her LSU women’s basketball team, consisting of nine newcomers, heading into Southeastern Conference play was that things were going to be different.
A nonconference slate in which the Tigers scored more than 100 points 11 times was going to be a thing of the past in league play. At the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on New Year’s Day, No. 12 Kentucky pushed LSU to the brink.
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It was a game of runs. The No. 5 Tigers jumped out to a 14-2 lead before the Wildcats settled in and responded with a 20-9 run. LSU couldn’t survive the final push from Kentucky as Wildcats guard Tonie Morgan drained a go-ahead 3-poiner with less than one second left to lift Kentucky to the 80-78 victory.
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LSU junior guard Mikaylah Williams put up 26 points, hitting three free throws with 18 seconds left to put the Tigers ahead 78-77. Morgan scored 24 points to pace Kentucky.
Both teams had to navigate first-half foul trouble as LSU’s Kate Koval played just 10 minutes before sitting with her second foul. Guard MiLaysia Fulwiley and Kentucky star forward Clara Strack each collected three fouls before halftime.
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The Tigers (14-1, 0-1) got needed outings from sophomore point guard Jada Richard and senior center Amiya Joyner, who both posted 14 points, but it wasn’t enough.
LSU women’s basketball vs Kentucky game score, live updates
Jada Richard hits second buzzer beater of game for LSU women’s basketball
This is the second time tonight sophomore point guard Jada Richard has hit a buzzer beater. This one pushes the game to a multi-possession game.
END 3 | No. 5 LSU 65 No. 12 Kentucky 60
Mikaylah Williams knocks down big 3-pointer for LSU women’s basketball
Star guard Mikaylah Williams’ third 3-pointer of the game gives LSU its largest lead, 59-50, since the opening run it went on to open this game.
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This bucket was a momentum builder as LSU had a great defensive possession which turned into this bucket from Williams.
3:11 3Q | No. 5 LSU 59 No. 12 Kentucky 50
LSU women’s basketball, Kentucky trading lead
Neither team can get heavy sledding in this game. Both teams are responding, coming up with a defensive stop and turning it into points on the other end.
Flau’jae Johnson score the first 6 points of the second half for LSU. Tonie Morgan is hitting 3’s for Kentucky.
4:42 3Q | No. 5 LSU 54 No. 12 Kentucky 50
LSU women’s basketball tied with Kentucky at halftime
Fouls have played a role in this game so far. Kate Koval picked up two fouls in the first quarter and sat for an extended period of time. MiLaysia Fulwiley has three fouls and Kentucky star forward Clara Strack has three fouls.
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Seems like the team that can control its defensive effort should be in good position to win this game.
HALF | No. 5 LSU 41 No. 12 Kentucky 41
Flau’jae Johnson firing up LSU women’s basketball
LSU’s star senior Flau’jae Johnson demonstrates the level of energy at the Tigers are going to need to win this game. She fought through two Kentucky players to grab a loose ball and was rewarded with a breakaway layup.
Johnson finished a couple of possessions later and gets and the and-1.
It hasn’t been an easy start to this game for Johnson and but she’s coming around.
4:57 2Q | No. 5 LSU 34 No. 12 Kentucky 30
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LSU women’s basketball jumps out to early lead, Kentucky rallies
This is going to be a game of runs. Two of the top teams in the SEC are duking it out early in the PMAC.
LSU opened the game on a 14-2 run then Kentucky settled in and went on a 20-9 run to close the first out. Sophomore point guard Jada Richard hit a floater as time expired to give LSU the early lead.
END 1 | No. 5 LSU 23 No. 12 Kentucky 22
LSU women’s basketball 2025-26 schedule
Nov. 4: Houston Christian (W 108-55)
Nov. 6: Southeastern Louisiana (W 115-26)
Nov. 9: at Georgia Southern (W 118-70)
Nov. 12: Charlotte (W 117-59)
Nov. 17: at Tulane (W 101-71)
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Nov. 20: Alcorn State (W 112-49)
Nov. 28, Paradise Jam: Marist (W 113-53)
Nov. 29, Paradise Jam: Washington State (112-35)
Dec. 4, ACC/SEC Challenge: at Duke (W 93-77)
Dec. 7: at New Orleans (W 126-62)
Dec. 13, Compete 4 Cause in New Orleans: Louisiana Tech (W 87-61)
Dec. 16: Morgan State (W 91-33)
Dec. 21: Texas-Arlington (W 110-45)
Dec. 28: Alabama State (W 109-41)
Jan. 1: Kentucky* (7 p.m. CT, SEC Network+)
Jan. 4: at Vanderbilt* (4 p.m. CT, ESPN)
Jan. 8: at Georgia* (5:30 p.m. CT, SEC Network+)
Jan. 11: Texas* (2 p.m. CT, ESPN)
Jan. 18: at Oklahoma* (2 p.m., ESPN/2)
Jan. 22: at Texas A&M* (8 p.m. CT, SEC Network)
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Jan. 26: Florida* (7 p.m. CT, SEC Network)
Jan. 29: Arkansas* (7 p.m. CT, SEC Network+)
Feb. 1: Alabama* (11 a.m. CT, SEC Network)
Feb. 5: at Texas* (8 p.m. CT, ESPN)
Feb. 8: at Auburn* (1 p.m. CT, SEC Network)
Feb. 14: South Carolina* (7:30 p.m. CT, ABC)
Feb. 19: at Ole Miss* (8 p.m. CT, ESPN)
Feb. 22: Missouri* (3 p.m. CT, SEC Network)
Feb. 26: Tennessee* (5 p.m. CT, ESPN)
March 1: at Mississippi State* (3 p.m. CT, SEC Network)
March 4-8: SEC Tournament (Greenville, S.C.)
March 18-April 5: NCAA Tournament
*denotes SEC game
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU women’s basketball drops heartbreaker to Kentucky in SEC opener
