LSU women's basketball took the court for the first time in the PMAC on Thursday. Head coach Kim Mulkey and her team defeated UNT Dallas 159-31 in their first of two exhibition games to open the 2026-27 season.
The Tigers shot 70% from the field and made 16 three-pointers. Every available player scored at least eight points. Mulkey went with a starting lineup of Jada Williams, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Mikaylah Williams, Groce Knox, and ZaKiyah Johnson.
Fulwiley led the way with 32 points and 17 assists. Johnson pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with 23 points, while Williams scored 22 points, came away with 11 steals, and added seven assists. Laila Reynolds and Lola Lampley made their first appearances donning the triple and gold. They
contributed 20 and 13 points, respectively.
LSU excelled on defense and in transition. It came away with 36 steals and forced 46 turnovers. The Tigers scored 82 points off those giveaways, along with 61 fast-break points.
Here is what Mulkey had to say following her team's performance.
Reynolds stands out
Reynolds, a transfer from Florida, made all six of her field-goal attempts and didn't turn the ball over against the Trailblazers. Mulkey talked about her strengths and where she gets in the lineup.
"The speed was one thing. I think she has the ability to create harassment. The more comfortable she gets in the system and plays more physical every day. She's very quiet, doesn't open her mouth much, but is just a pleasant person to be around."
"When she's able to play just kind of at the two or even the three and allow you to kind of be bigger in the backcourt, she gives us depth. If I move MiLaysia to the point, she can get in there with Mikaylah."
Thoughts on the freshman
Lampley signed with LSU as a five-star prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. She posted 13 points, including six foul shots, three steals and a rebound.
"I think she played good and bad. I'm sure she was nervous. I'm sure that's the first time for her to play at this level. She did some things good."
"Lola can rebound the ball, but I think she only had one rebound so there weren't a lot of rebounds to be had. But she's got to think, 'when that shot goes up, I got to get in there and be in the mix.' She had some turnovers. That's just trying to rush things instead of taking your time, but she's a good-looking athlete that's really, really talented. And she's another one that's just gonna explode one day."
Frontcourt injuries
Six-foot-three Noa Morrow and six-foot-five Anna Minaeva didn't suit up on Thursday. Mulkey explained that both are dealing with injuries but will join the lineup soon. Minaeva has a quad injury, which Mulkey said she should return from on Monday, and Morrow had surgery in early September.
"[Anna's] 17 years old and what you try to learn is what is her pain tolerance. I think she's ready to be out there. I don't know in sports if anybody ever plays with just zero pain every day. I think you're always gonna have something and so we just wait for the trainers and the doctors to say she can go.
"Here's what you don't want, this is what I told [Anna]. You can't practice one day and be off another day and practice the next. No. You just sit until you can go and practice every day and we can get you in a flow, so that's kind of where we are."
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Three things Kim Mulkey said after LSU women's basketball exhibition
