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Defending nationwide champion LSU is having a tough week.
4 days after shedding to Related Press No. 1 South Carolina, No. 9 LSU (18-4, 5-3 in SEC) was surprised on the highway, shedding to unranked Mississippi State, 77-73. The Tigers entered the sport as a 9.5-point favourite.
Per ESPN’s “SportsCenter” social media account, it was the primary win for Mississippi State (17-5, 4-3 in SEC) in opposition to a top-10 opponent since 2018.
It was additionally the primary time LSU head coach Kim Mulkey misplaced consecutive video games with the Tigers since her first season in Baton Rouge in 2021-22.
LSU was a preferred decide within the preseason to repeat as NCAA Match champs, and whereas it has the expertise to go on a deep run in March, its play of late has been regarding. Over their final 5 video games, the Tigers are 2-3.
Their lack of depth has been uncovered previously two losses.
In opposition to the Bulldogs, the Tigers’ bench was outscored 35-6. On Thursday in opposition to the Gamecocks, the sport turned when energy ahead Angel Reese, who had 20 factors and 18 rebounds on Monday, fouled out with 4:02 remaining.
Switch guard Hailey Van Lith’s play has been disappointing as nicely. In the course of the workforce’s final 5 video games, she’s averaged 9.6 factors per recreation whereas capturing 29.6%.
For a workforce with restricted choices behind her, it may well’t afford her dry spell to final for much longer.
In December, Mulkey introduced guard Kateri Poole, who performed a pivotal function throughout final yr’s NCAA Match run, was no longer with the team.
As choppily because the yr started, it is solely becoming that LSU should climate one other storm. The Tigers misplaced their opener to Colorado, and Reese spent 4 video games away from the workforce for unspecified causes in November.
They efficiently maneuvered via that minefield, however the SEC is proving to be rather more daunting.
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