Hold onto your seats, basketball fans, because the women's college hoops scene just got a whole lot more exciting! In a stunning upset, the No. 12 LSU Tigers handed the previously undefeated No. 2 Texas Longhorns their first loss of the season, 70-65. But here's where it gets even more intriguing: this victory marks LSU's first win against an Associated Press top-2 team since 2008, snapping a 17-game losing streak against elite opponents. And this is the part most people miss – it's not just about the win; it's about the resilience and teamwork that got them there.
According to ESPN's Michael Voepel, a seasoned journalist covering women's basketball since 1984, this game was a testament to LSU's ability to bounce back from adversity. After a flawless 14-0 start, the Tigers stumbled in their first two SEC games against Kentucky and Vanderbilt. However, they quickly regrouped, securing wins against Georgia and now Texas. Guard Mikaylah Williams led the charge with an impressive 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4 assists, while four other players chipped in with 10 points each. As Williams put it, 'We knew we beat ourselves in those last games. We focused on taking care of the ball, being disciplined, and dominating the boards – and that's exactly what we did.'
But here's the controversial part: Was Texas' loss a result of LSU's brilliance, or did the Longhorns self-destruct? Texas committed a season-high 17 turnovers, with forward Madison Booker accounting for six of them. Starting point guard Rori Harmon had a night to forget, scoring just two points on 1-of-7 shooting, and was benched in the fourth quarter by coach Vic Schaefer. The Tigers also outrebounded the Longhorns 44-35, a stat that raises questions about Texas' ability to control the paint against top-tier opponents. Kyla Oldacre's 16 points and 16 rebounds for Texas were impressive, but not enough to sway the outcome.
With this loss, only three undefeated teams remain in Division I women's basketball: No. 1 UConn, No. 7 Vanderbilt, and No. 17 Texas Tech. Interestingly, Vanderbilt is the only school with both its women's and men's teams still unbeaten. As for Texas, their schedule doesn't get any easier – they face No. 3 South Carolina on Thursday. LSU, meanwhile, travels to No. 5 Oklahoma next Sunday. Mark your calendars for February 5th, when these two teams meet again in Austin, Texas (ESPN, 9 p.m. ET).
So, what do you think? Was LSU's victory a fluke, or are they a legitimate contender this season? And how concerned should Texas fans be about their team's performance against top opponents? Let us know your thoughts in the comments – this is one discussion you won't want to miss!
