Texas Shuts the Door on LSU With Fourth-Quarter Statement Win
For three quarters, it was a battle. Then Texas slammed the door shut.
The LSU Tigers rolled into Thursday night with a seven-game winning streak and a shot at strengthening their case for a No. 1 seed in March. But when the lights got brightest in the fourth quarter, the Texas Longhorns took over, outscoring LSU 20-11 in the final frame and handing the Tigers a 77-64 loss that felt even more lopsided than the score suggests.
Now sitting at 21-3 overall and 7-3 in SEC play, LSU finds itself in a spot it hasn’t been in often under Kim Mulkey - staring down the possibility of a fourth conference loss. That only happened once before during her tenure, and with three top-20 opponents still on the schedule, the road ahead doesn’t get any easier.
A Fourth Quarter to Forget
LSU’s offense, which has been one of the most explosive in the country, hit a wall in the final 10 minutes. Texas turned up the pressure defensively and LSU simply didn’t have an answer. The Tigers managed just one field goal attempt from both Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams in the fourth - and that one shot was all they got between them.
That’s not going to cut it in big-time matchups.
Williams had been LSU’s offensive engine through three quarters, racking up 18 points. But she didn’t get a single shot up in the fourth.
Whether it was Texas’ defense locking her down or a lack of play-calling to get her involved, it’s hard to believe that was part of the plan. Johnson, another key piece, was similarly quiet down the stretch.
The Tigers are known for their unselfishness - a team that shares the ball, makes the extra pass, and plays for each other. But sometimes, when the game tightens up, you need your stars to take over. That didn’t happen in Austin.
Texas Brings the Heat
Give credit to Texas. Their defense was relentless in the fourth, forcing LSU into bad shots, empty possessions, and costly turnovers. The Longhorns didn’t just win the quarter - they dominated it physically and mentally.
Aaliyah Crump was a spark off the bench, finishing with 16 points in just 24 minutes and giving Texas a huge lift. The Longhorns’ bench outscored LSU’s by 11, and that depth showed up when it mattered most.
Madison Booker, Texas’ leading scorer coming into the game, was held in check by LSU’s defense - she finished with 18 points on 6-of-21 shooting. That’s a win for the Tigers on paper. But the problem wasn’t what Booker did - it’s what Texas did as a team, especially when it came to capitalizing on LSU’s mistakes.
Turnovers, Missed Opportunities, and a Game That Got Away
This one was close for most of the night. Texas led by just four heading into the fourth. But a string of poorly timed turnovers and a cold spell on offense allowed the Longhorns to stretch their lead to as many as 17 with under three minutes to play.
LSU had chances. They just couldn’t cash them in.
Now, the Tigers have to regroup - and fast. A more manageable opponent awaits on Sunday, but looming after that is a showdown with South Carolina. If LSU wants to stay in the mix for a top seed and prove they belong among the elite, they’ll need to learn from this loss - and show they can respond when the pressure’s on.
Because come March, fourth quarters like this one will decide seasons.