Lady Vols vs LSU women's basketball: Kim Mulkey's team stuns at home

Lady Vols basketball fought hard but fell short against LSU. The game was a close one, with the Tigers coming out on top.

The Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team came close to defeating LSU, but the Tigers ultimately emerged victorious in a thrilling game at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Despite a halftime deficit, Tennessee managed to regain momentum and set up an exciting fourth quarter against the defending national champions. Unfortunately, the final minutes of the game came down to guard play, with Hailey Van Lith's 12 fourth-quarter points propelling LSU to a 75-60 win.

Although Tennessee was able to limit LSU's star players Angel Reese and Flau'jae Johnson to a combined 20 points, they struggled to contain Van Lith and freshman guard Mikaylah Williams, who together scored 37 points. None of the Lady Vols' guards scored in double figures, with Rickea Jackson leading the team with 16 points and Tamari Key contributing 10.

In the final quarter, LSU outscored Tennessee 27-15 and shot 45.5% from the field. While the Lady Vols kept pace with LSU offensively in the first quarter, they fell behind in the second, trailing 38-26 at halftime. Tennessee's offense struggled in the second quarter, going five minutes without scoring and missing all four of their 3-point attempts.

Despite their early offensive struggles, the Lady Vols rebounded after halftime, outscoring LSU 19-10 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 48-45 going into the fourth quarter. Both teams traded buckets and pushed the pace in the final quarter, with LSU ultimately securing the win.

Overall, it was a hard-fought game for the Lady Vols, and while they were unable to secure a victory, their tenacity and resilience were on full display. As the team continues to grow and develop, fans can look forward to more exciting performances in the future.