LSU women’s basketball continues to roll, and on Monday night, sophomore guard Jada Richard made sure the momentum didn’t slow down. Richard dropped 20 points to lead the sixth-ranked Tigers to a commanding 89-60 win over Florida, extending LSU’s win streak to five and improving their record to 19-2 overall, 5-2 in SEC play.
Inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, LSU looked every bit like a team finding its rhythm as February approaches. The Tigers didn’t just win-they controlled the game on both ends, outmuscling the Gators on the glass (48-28) and getting contributions from across the roster.
Richard was the spark plug. She played with poise beyond her years, finishing with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-3 from deep and a perfect 6-for-6 at the line.
She added three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 35 minutes of action. Her ability to read the game and adjust on the fly continues to impress.
“She figures it out,” head coach Kim Mulkey said postgame. “Jada’s IQ with the basketball is something you have to be around her every day to see.
Great ones go back and they watch their mistakes. I love that about competitors.”
Senior forward Amiya Joyner delivered her second straight double-double, tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists and a block. It was her seventh double-double of the season and the 47th of her career-numbers that speak to her consistency and leadership in the paint.
Juniors MiLaysia Fulwiley and Mikaylah Williams also reached double figures, scoring 15 and 12 points respectively. Fulwiley did most of her damage in the fourth quarter, pouring in 11 of her 15 during the final stretch to help LSU slam the door shut on any hopes of a Florida comeback.
The Tigers didn’t start hot-missing their first four shots-but once they settled in, the offense started to click. Six different players scored in the first quarter, with LSU pulling ahead 14-8 midway through the frame. Florida trimmed the deficit late in the quarter, but LSU held a 22-19 edge after one.
The second quarter saw a brief lull in LSU’s offensive rhythm. The Gators took a 27-26 lead midway through the period, but LSU responded with an 8-2 run to close the half, heading into the locker room up 36-29. Joyner and senior Flau’jae Johnson led the way at the break with nine and eight points, respectively.
Then came the third quarter-and Richard took over. She scored 12 points in the frame, attacking from all angles.
Whether it was pulling up from deep or getting to the line, Richard was in full control. LSU outscored Florida 27-16 in the third, shooting 60% from the field and hitting both of their three-point attempts.
Fulwiley followed suit in the fourth, putting on her own scoring display with 11 points in the final 10 minutes. LSU outscored Florida 26-15 in the quarter, closing the game with authority and walking away with a 29-point win.
After the game, Mulkey praised the team’s chemistry and depth-a hallmark of this LSU squad.
“They honestly do things together off the court,” Mulkey said. “They really, really have a chemistry that is very unselfish.
They want to all play now, but it’s not destructive in any way. I’ve never seen them get too high; I’ve never seen them get too low.
I’ve seen them do extra on their own, extra in the film room, extra on the court. Yeah, I got a lot of depth.
I’ve got a lot of depth, a lot of weapons, I do.”
Next up, LSU hosts Arkansas on Thursday for the annual Play4Kay game, a meaningful night that supports the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. As part of the tradition, Associate Head Coach Bob Starkey and his wife Sherie will donate $1 for every LSU student in attendance.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT at the Maravich Center.
With Richard emerging as a go-to scorer, Joyner anchoring the paint, and a deep supporting cast that can hurt you from all angles, LSU is starting to look like a team no one wants to face come March.