LSU women’s basketball made history on Thursday night by winning by a record 109 points. The No. 9 ranked team crushed Texas Southern 131-22 in Baton Rouge. This scoreline stands as the largest win ever recorded in Division I history against another Division I opponent. The Lady Tigers scored 40 unanswered points in just the second quarter alone. That single quarter performance forced nine turnovers and held the visiting team without a basket.
The final margin of 109 points broke the previous record set by Baylor in 2016. That Baylor squad was actually coached by Kim Mulkey, who now leads LSU. The current team surpassed that old mark by dominating the middle of the game. LSU scored 50 straight points across the second and third quarters. This 50-0 run was the largest such streak since Mulkey took over the program in 2021. It remains the second-largest shutout quarter since the league switched to four quarters in 2015.
The Second Quarter Explosion
Jada Williams was the main force during the quarter that changed everything. The transfer from Iowa State scored 16 of her 18 points in that single period. She was scoreless in the first quarter but went 6 of 7 from the field in the second. Her three three-pointers in just eight minutes helped fuel the 40-0 run. Per ESPN Research, this 40-0 quarter is the second-largest shutout quarter in the modern era. Only Texas Southern itself holds a better shutout mark with a 44-0 quarter in 2024.
The offense did not stop there as the second half began. LSU extended their lead to 65-13 by halftime thanks to a Mikaylah Williams three-pointer. The Lady Tigers finished with seven different players scoring in double figures. Freshman Anna Minaeva led the team with 21 points. Mikaylah Williams added 20 points while ZaKiyah Johnson scored 17. Grace Knox and MiLaysia Fulwiley each contributed 15 points to the total.
Why Texas Southern Could Not Keep Up
The visiting team struggled mightily with their shooting and ball handling all night. Texas Southern shot just 13 percent from the field, making only 8 of 55 attempts. They also turned the ball over 38 times during the contest. These mistakes allowed LSU to score 55 points off turnovers. Jayla Cornelius led the Tigers with six points, but it was not enough to stay close. The loss drops Texas Southern to 0-2 on the season.
LSU has now won two straight games by more than 100 points to start the year. The team improved to 2-0 overall and 7-0 all-time against Texas Southern. The team’s dominance is rare even for a top-ranked program. The school-record margin of victory shows just how deep the roster has become. Seven players scoring double figures proves the team does not rely on just one star.
A Night for Angel Reese
Before the game, the team honored former star Angel Reese with flowers. Reese helped the Lady Tigers win their first national championship in 2022. She is the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year for this year. Reese also played a key role in the Atlanta Dream reaching the WNBA championship series. Her presence on the court as a guest added a special layer to the historic night.
The win cements Kim Mulkey’s status as a winner at her new home. The coach led a Baylor team to a massive win years ago and now holds the record. The 131-22 final score is a clear statement to the rest of the league. LSU has shown it can score at will and stop opponents completely. The Lady Tigers are 7-0 against Texas Southern and look unstoppable so far.
The tone was set when LSU tallied 40 unanswered points in the second quarter. The team forced nine turnovers in that period alone. Jada Williams netted 16 of her 18 points during the run. The final score of 131-22 was the largest win in Division I history. Texas Southern shot 13 percent and turned the ball over 38 times.
