LSU women's basketball vs. Alabama: Score prediction, scouting report

There's been a noticeable shift in the LSU women's basketball's defense the past two games.

After several late breakdowns in both the South Carolina and Mississippi State losses a couple of weeks ago, Kim Mulkey went back to the drawing board with her team during its "bye" week. The team practiced with no basketball for several of those days and they worked on defense.

"We’ve sat in the film room and challenged them," Mulkey said after No. 13 LSU's win at Vanderbilt Thursday night. "I can tell you they took it to heart.

"You can see it in the last couple of games where they don’t want to be a liability on the defensive end."

What Kim Mulkey worked on with LSU women's basketball's defense

Before the off week, the same things that had been plaguing the Tigers (20-4, 7-3 SEC) all season were some of the biggest reasons they lost to the Gamecocks and the Bulldogs: transition defense, lack of communication on the defensive end.

The big one: zero help defense.

On the television broadcast after the Vanderbilt victory, Angel Reese told commentators that was the road map while the team wasn't playing last week — as well as not picking up basketballs.

Mulkey's benchmarks for good defense is keeping opponents below 70 points and limiting them to under 40% shooting. LSU has now done so the last two games — against some good offensive teams, no less, in Florida and Vandy.

Angel Reese, Aneesah Morrow should feast in rebounds against Alabama Crimson Tide again

Reese and Aneesah Morrow combined for 28 rebounds in the first matchup with Alabama this season.

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While LSU didn't have a ton of second-chance points last time, expect Morrow and Reese to fuel the Tigers inside with a distinct size advantage. It's a similar gameplan to the one against Vanderbilt. The Tigers outrebounded the Commodores 57 to 35 and tallied a season-high 32 second-chance points off 26 offensive rebounds.

Alabama scouting report

The Crimson Tide are playing much better since the last time playing LSU. They've gone 4-1 since that loss in Coleman Coliseum.

Biggest difference has been Alabama's ability to get in the lane on offense, as well as cashing in on opponents' turnovers.

Seniors Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye have been playing well of late. Barker has put up 20 points per game, while Nye has shot the lights out, recording 16 points per game.

Alabama has averaged 30 points in the paint over its four-game winning streak, highlighted by scoring 50 points inside on Kentucky. The Tide will try to penetrate the lane against the Tigers and see if they can get Reese, Morrow and company in foul trouble.

LSU women's basketball score prediction vs. Alabama

LSU 91, Alabama 66: The Tigers have turned a corner. They're catching their stride on defense. And with its already potent offense, Mulkey's squad will easily dispatch of Alabama on Sunday.

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 vs. Alabama: Score prediction, scouting report