LSU Women’s Basketball: Kim Mulkey’s Take on the Loss to Alabama

In an intense SEC showdown on February 27, 2025, the LSU Tigers suffered a heartbreaking 88-85 overtime loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game, filled with high energy, crucial moments, and drama, left LSU reeling as they faced their second conference defeat. For head coach Kim Mulkey, the loss was a tough pill to swallow, but also an opportunity to reflect on the areas where her team fell short. In a postgame interview, Mulkey shared her honest thoughts on what went wrong and what her team could learn moving forward.

1. The Need for Consistency

One of the primary points Mulkey highlighted was the lack of consistent intensity from her team throughout the game. LSU has often been praised for its relentless play and ability to turn the tide in difficult situations, but against Alabama, the team struggled to sustain that energy.

While LSU did show signs of their characteristic fight, particularly in their effort to claw back from deficits, Mulkey pointed out that Alabama matched and, at times, outpaced the Tigers in terms of energy and grit. The inability to play with consistent intensity allowed Alabama to dictate the tempo, putting LSU on the back foot for much of the game.

“We have to bring that intensity from the start to the finish,” Mulkey said. “You can’t just turn it on when you’re down; that’s not how we win games. Alabama came in and played with a level of energy we didn’t match for long enough.”

2. Free Throws: A Missed Opportunity

One of the most significant issues Mulkey addressed was LSU’s poor free-throw shooting. In a game as tightly contested as this one, free throws can often make or break a team’s chances, and unfortunately for LSU, their performance at the charity stripe left much to be desired.

The Tigers made only 14 of 23 free throws (60.9%), a percentage well below their season average. In contrast, Alabama was much more efficient from the line, converting 20 of 24 attempts. The disparity in free-throw shooting had a direct impact on the game, particularly as both teams struggled to pull away from each other in the final minutes of regulation and overtime.

Mulkey acknowledged that this was a glaring issue, pointing out that LSU had to capitalize on every opportunity, especially in a game decided by such a slim margin.

“We didn’t take advantage of our free throws,” Mulkey said. “In a game like this, when every point matters, we can’t afford to miss that many.”

3. The Rebounding Battle: A Critical Deficit

Rebounding is often a deciding factor in basketball games, and LSU, which typically excels in this area, was outplayed on the boards by Alabama. The Tigers, who entered the game as the SEC’s top rebounding team, were outrebounded 43-37 by the Crimson Tide.

Mulkey was especially frustrated with LSU’s performance in the first half, where they managed only one offensive rebound. With their usual dominance on the boards absent, LSU struggled to get second-chance points and limit Alabama’s offensive opportunities.

“This is a team that’s built on rebounding, and we just didn’t get it done,” Mulkey said. “One offensive rebound in the first half? That’s just not LSU basketball.”

Alabama’s physicality and commitment to boxing out allowed them to control the glass and limit LSU’s opportunities for extra possessions. This allowed the Crimson Tide to maintain their lead at critical moments, and ultimately helped them to hang on for the victory.

4. Foul Trouble: A Disruption to the Game Plan

Foul trouble was another key issue for LSU during the game. Key players such as Flau’jae Johnson, who has been a standout for the Tigers this season, found themselves on the bench for extended stretches due to foul issues. Johnson, in particular, fouled out of the game, leaving LSU without one of their primary offensive and defensive players in the closing moments of regulation and overtime.

Mikaylah Williams, another key player, also had to sit out significant stretches due to foul trouble, which hampered LSU’s ability to execute their game plan and adjust to the pressure. The inability to keep their best players on the floor in critical moments was another factor in LSU’s downfall.

“We can’t afford to have key players on the bench in the heat of the moment,” Mulkey remarked. “When you lose players like that, it changes everything. We need to do a better job of staying disciplined and avoiding foul trouble.”

5. Acknowledging Alabama’s Execution

Despite LSU’s struggles, Mulkey was quick to credit Alabama for their solid execution throughout the game. The Crimson Tide’s ability to capitalize on LSU’s mistakes, especially in the latter stages of the game, was impressive.

Alabama executed well under pressure, particularly when LSU had an opportunity to take the lead or tie the game. Even without their top scorer, Aaliyah Nye, who fouled out in the final minutes, Alabama maintained their composure and made crucial free throws in overtime to seal the win.

“We’ve got to give Alabama credit,” Mulkey said. “They made the plays when it counted, and that’s why they won. They executed under pressure, and we didn’t.”

Alabama’s performance was a testament to their resilience and ability to stay focused in a high-stakes environment. While LSU certainly had its chances to take control of the game, Alabama’s collective effort and poise in crunch time were key to their victory.

6. Learning from the Loss

While the loss was undoubtedly disappointing, Mulkey was quick to emphasize the importance of learning from the defeat. LSU still has a strong team with plenty of talent, but they need to address these weaknesses if they want to compete at the highest level in the SEC and beyond.

“This game is a great lesson for us,” Mulkey said. “We have to be better in these areas if we want to win big games. This loss doesn’t define us, but it does show us where we need to improve.”

As LSU moves forward in the season, the Tigers will need to focus on consistency, free-throw shooting, rebounding, and maintaining discipline on the court. Mulkey’s leadership will be critical as the team works through these growing pains, and there’s no doubt that LSU will come back stronger after this tough loss.