LSU women's basketball erases halftime deficit to cruise past Alabama
Kim Mulkey decided to go with a small lineup.
The LSU women's basketball coach had to try something, so she trotted four guards in Hailey Van Lith, Flau'jae Johnson, Last-Tear Poa and Mikaylah Williams out there with Aneesah Morrow, all 6-foot of her, at the post.
Alabama, which led by 10 points at the 5:06 second-quarter mark, had been slashing and cutting LSU's defense to death. Nothing was working for the Tigers, who weren't slowing down Alabama much at all, inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Sunday. And Mulkey stood there on the sideline, hands on hips in exasperation as the Crimson Tide forward Jessica Timmons stepped to the line to complete an and-one.
Last thing left in the bag, it felt like, was the full-court press. After trailing by 10 at halftime, LSU came out in it. Quickly, LSU erased the double-digit deficit, took the lead less than four minutes into the third and went on to win, 85-66.
LSU women's basketball goes full-court press to turn tide
Out of the locker room at halftime, Mulkey had her team go to the full-court press, something it's done several times this season but hasn't run in some time.
It didn't take long as LSU went on a 12-1 run over a 3:44 span and reclaimed the lead off an Angel Reese layup. The Tigers outscored Alabama 30-9 in the third quarter to put distance between them.
Reese dominated the Tide inside, going for 27 points, 19 rebounds and six assists, while Johnson put up 16 while Williams had 14.
LSU struggles to handle Alabama's mix of defenses
The Tigers prefer to push tempo and get the defense on its heels. But Alabama's air-tight zone defense prevented any kind of run-outs in the first half and forced LSU deep into the shot clock.
LSU could not establish any rhythm in the half-court against the Crimson Tide, which threw in some matchup man defense, too. It got decent looks at the basket, but shots sometimes were rushed, an extra pass was made when it wasn't needed or the shots simply weren't falling like the nine missed layups in the first half. LSU shot 31% in the first half while Alabama made 39% and had four more shot attempts.
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Coming into the Alabama game, LSU had been 0-4 under Mulkey when trailing by double-digits at halftime.
It was the first time this season the Tigers trailed by at least 10 points, and the largest halftime home deficit the Tigers have faced under Mulkey. They shook off their slow start behind their defense.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU women's basketball erases halftime deficit to cruise past Alabama
