Mikaylah Williams Leads LSU to Upset Victory Over No. 2 Texas, Ending Longhorns’ Undefeated Run
LSU guard Mikaylah Williams delivered a stellar performance, leading the No. 12 Tigers to a 70-65 victory over No. 2 Texas on Sunday, effectively ending the Longhorns’ previously undefeated season. Williams scored 20 points in the hard-fought contest at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, proving to be a pivotal force in the upset.
Texas entered the game ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, alongside UConn, Vanderbilt, and Texas Tech as the last remaining undefeated teams in women’s college basketball. The loss drops Texas to an 18-1 overall record and a 3-1 mark in conference play, joining the ranks of teams with a single defeat.
The Longhorns struggled to establish offensive momentum, particularly as All-American forward Madison Booker spent a significant portion of the second quarter sidelined due to foul trouble. LSU capitalized, building a 30-25 lead at halftime and extending it to a 12-point advantage in the third quarter.
Booker attempted to rally Texas in the final frame, scoring 14 points in the quarter. Her three-pointer with 6:03 remaining narrowed the deficit to 55-52, but LSU managed to maintain control and prevent a complete comeback.
“We knew coming in that Texas was a tough opponent, but our team stayed focused and executed our game plan,” a senior official stated.
Booker ultimately led all scorers with 24 points, while senior center Kyla Oldacre contributed a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds, adding three blocks for good measure. Despite shooting 43.9% from the field, the Longhorns committed 17 turnovers, which LSU converted into 11 points. The Tigers also secured a crucial advantage on the offensive glass, recording 19 offensive rebounds for 13 second-chance points, surpassing the nine points Texas managed from 11 offensive rebounds.
Williams’ performance was multifaceted, adding seven rebounds and five steals to her 20-point outing. She sealed the victory with a clutch three-pointer with 80 seconds left, extending LSU’s lead to seven points. The Tigers also received significant contributions from Flau’jae Johnson, ZaKiyah Johnson, MiLaysia Fulwiley, and Jada Richard, each scoring 10 points.
LSU (16-2, 2-2) demonstrated resilience and a strong team effort. “Our players really stepped up today, especially on the defensive end,” one analyst noted. “They disrupted Texas’s rhythm and forced crucial turnovers.”
Texas will look to rebound on Thursday when they travel to face No. 3 South Carolina (17-1, 4-0). The Longhorns previously defeated the Gamecocks 66-64 in a November matchup at a Las Vegas showcase.
The game also featured notable moments, including a buzzer-beating layup by LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley, a player familiar to Texas fans from her previous tenure with South Carolina, where she helped defeat the Longhorns three times last year. Fulwiley’s play on Sunday contributed to an 11-point lead for LSU.
Texas faces a challenging road ahead, but will aim to regain their momentum as they continue conference play. The loss serves as a reminder of the competitive landscape of women’s college basketball and the importance of minimizing turnovers and controlling the boards.
