Florida
LSU
BATON ROUGE, La. (01/26/2026) — The No. 6 ranked LSU Tigers showcased their dominance on Monday night, securing a decisive 89-60 victory over the Florida Gators in a key Southeastern Conference matchup at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The win marked LSU's fifth consecutive victory, solidifying their strong position in the conference standings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
LSU asserted control from the outset and never looked back, leveraging a significant advantage in shooting and rebounding. The Tigers shot an efficient 48% from the field compared to Florida's 37%, but the true disparity was on the glass. LSU outrebounded the Gators by a staggering 48-28 margin, limiting second-chance opportunities for Florida and creating extra possessions for themselves. While Florida kept the game within reach in the first quarter, trailing 22-19, LSU began to pull away before halftime. The Tigers took a 36-29 lead into the locker room after closing the second quarter on a 10-2 run. The second half was all LSU, as they outscored the Gators 27-16 in the third quarter and 26-15 in the fourth to cruise to the 29-point win.
TURNING POINT
The game's complexion permanently shifted in the third quarter. After a competitive first half, LSU emerged from the locker room with renewed intensity. Sophomore guard Jada Richard ignited the offense, pouring in 12 of her game-high 20 points in the period alone. The Tigers' offense shot a blistering 60% from the field in the third frame, turning a seven-point halftime lead into a commanding 63-45 advantage heading into the final quarter. Florida could not match the offensive surge and the game was effectively decided by the end of the third.
STAR OF THE GAME
Sophomore guard Jada Richard was the unequivocal star for the LSU Tigers. Richard finished with a game-high 20 points on an efficient 6-of-10 shooting, including draining both of her three-point attempts. She was perfect from the free-throw line, going 6-for-6, and added three rebounds and two assists in a stellar all-around performance. Her third-quarter scoring outburst was the critical blow that broke the game open for LSU.
Several other Tigers contributed to the balanced attack. Senior Amiya Joyner recorded her second straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while MiLaysia Fulwiley added 15 points and Mikaylah Williams chipped in 12. For the Gators, sophomore guard Liv McGill led the effort with 14 points and eight rebounds.
WHAT IT MEANS
With the victory, LSU improves to 19-2 on the season and 5-2 in the SEC, continuing their climb in the conference rankings after a slow start to league play. The dominant performance in front of a home crowd of 9,793 reinforces their status as a top contender. For the Florida Gators, the loss drops them to 13-9 overall and 1-6 in the tough SEC. The game was the start of a difficult stretch for the Gators, who face a series of ranked opponents in their upcoming schedule.