No. 8 LSU women’s basketball absolutely torched North Texas-Dallas, hitting a ridiculous 159-31 in their first exhibition game of the 2026-27 season on Thursday, Oct. 22. Yeah, you read that right: 159 points. Head coach Kim Mulkey might say the scoreboard didn’t matter inside the Pete Maravich Assembly, but that kind of raw offensive power, even in an exhibition, sends a message across the league. What really mattered to Mulkey was seeing her new squad in action, rocking different colors against an actual opponent, and the Tigers certainly gave her a show.
Mulkey’s Squad Is Deep… But Also Thin?
Here’s the wild part: LSU pulled off that blowout, that jaw-dropping 159-point performance, with only nine players dressed for the game. Nine! Think about that for a second. That’s not exactly a full roster ready to roll. Forwards Noa Morro and Anna Minaeva are both sidelined, dealing with injuries right now. That kind of short bench definitely limited Mulkey’s options, meaning she couldn’t work through as many lineup combinations as any coach would want in an early look. Still, getting live game reps, even against UNT-Dallas, was crucial for the team.
Injuries and Missed Recruits Make It Complicated
It’s not just the current injuries making things interesting for Mulkey’s Tigers. This team, currently ranked No. 8 in preseason polls, recently missed out on five-star center Zaniya Johnson in recruiting. You’ve got two key forwards out with injuries, a limited bench, and a top recruit going elsewhere. While the final score was a monster statement, you have to wonder what Mulkey is really looking at. The Tigers are getting those reps, they’re showing offensive explosiveness, but the depth chart and health are definitely going to be on her mind as the season officially kicks off.
The next time Mulkey’s squad hits the court, every single play will be about getting those healthy bodies back, figuring out the best rotations, and truly building chemistry. This exhibition showed the league LSU can score with the best of them, but the real challenge for the No. 8 Tigers will be navigating these early season hurdles and getting a full, healthy roster ready to go.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply