{"id":14163,"date":"2026-01-12T08:05:46","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T08:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/lsu-beats-texas-70-65\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T08:05:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T08:05:46","slug":"lsu-beats-texas-70-65","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/lsu-beats-texas-70-65\/","title":{"rendered":"LSU Upsets No. 2 Texas 70-65 in Sellout at PMAC"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p><strong>Lead:<\/strong> On January 11, 2026, in Baton Rouge, the No. 12 LSU women\u2019s basketball team defeated No. 2 Texas 70-65 before a sellout crowd of 13,200 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Junior guard Mikaylah Williams paced the Tigers with a 20-point, seven-rebound performance and a career-high five steals to close out the fourth quarter. The victory improved LSU to 16-2 overall and 2-2 in SEC play while handing Texas its first loss of the season, dropping the Longhorns to 18-1 and 3-1 in conference action. The win also marked LSU\u2019s first AP Top\u20112 victory since 2008 and snapped a 17-game losing streak versus AP Top\u20112 opponents.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Final score: LSU 70, Texas 65; attendance 13,200 at Pete Maravich Assembly Center.<\/li>\n<li>Records: LSU moved to 16-2 overall and 2-2 in the SEC; Texas fell to 18-1 and 3-1 in the SEC.<\/li>\n<li>Mikaylah Williams stat line: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and a career-high 5 steals; she shot 7-of-13 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free throw line.<\/li>\n<li>Balanced scoring: five Tigers reached double figures \u2014 Williams (20), Flau\u2019jae Johnson (10), Jada Richard (10), MiLaysia Fulwiley (10) and ZaKiyah Johnson (10).<\/li>\n<li>Texas team shooting: 25-of-57 from the field, 4-of-12 from three and 11-of-18 at the line; LSU forced 17 turnovers \u2014 the most Texas has committed this season.<\/li>\n<li>Second-chance impact: Texas surrendered a season-high 13 second\u2011chance points to LSU, a decisive factor in extra possessions.<\/li>\n<li>Game control: LSU led for 26:52 of the game while Texas led for 7:17; the largest LSU lead was nine points.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>The matchup arrived with national attention: Texas entered 2026 unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, while LSU sat at No. 12 and was building momentum under head coach Kim Mulkey. LSU\u2019s program carries recent high-profile success, including the 2023 national championship, and the team sought signature wins to shore up its resume for NCAA seeding. Texas, a perennial top-five program, came into the game with an 18-0 streak that underscored the upset\u2019s significance for both programs.<\/p>\n<p>The game took place in the PMAC, where a 13,200 sellout represented the ninth-largest crowd in LSU women\u2019s basketball history, amplifying the home\u2011court atmosphere. Conference implications were immediate: the result shifted early SEC pecking order and will influence teams\u2019 league standings and selection committee narratives as both squads navigate the rest of nonconference play and the SEC slate. Both rosters feature pro-level talent and coaching staffs that emphasize defense, setting expectations for a low-possession, high-effort contest.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>The first quarter set a defensive tone as both teams produced just 11 points apiece, marking the lowest first-quarter scoring output for either side this season. Flau\u2019jae Johnson opened scoring with a three, and the period closed knotted as each team repeatedly forced stops. LSU\u2019s toughness on the boards and early positional defense prevented Texas from establishing rhythm in the opening minutes.<\/p>\n<p>In the second quarter LSU began cold, missing its first seven attempts, but closed the frame on an 8-for-9 stretch and carried a 30-25 lead into halftime. The Tigers outrebounded Texas 12-4 in the period and used offensive rebounds to generate second-chance points that widened their margin. Overall first-half shooting for LSU improved markedly after the mid-quarter surge.<\/p>\n<p>After intermission LSU rode that momentum into a 20-9 run that started late in the second quarter and extended into the third, pushing the lead to as many as nine \u2014 the largest deficit Texas had faced all season. Texas fought back in the fourth quarter, trimming the margin to three at one point, but LSU\u2019s balance and ball protection in the final minutes proved decisive. Williams\u2019 late three with 1:20 remaining pushed the lead to 66-59; Jada Richard then sealed the outcome at the free-throw line, hitting four clutch attempts down the stretch.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Tactically, LSU\u2019s defense created the conditions for the upset by forcing 17 turnovers and limiting Texas to a 43.9 percent field-goal rate (25-of-57). Those turnovers translated to transition chances and disrupted Texas\u2019s half-court sets, reducing high-efficiency opportunities for the Longhorns\u2019 primary scorers. For teams looking to contain Texas, the model demonstrated here \u2014 aggressive on-ball pressure plus disciplined rebound boxing out \u2014 is repeatable.<\/p>\n<p>From a roster-development perspective, Mikaylah Williams\u2019 complete stat line (20-7-4-5) signals a growth in two-way responsibility: she scored in key moments, defended Texas\u2019 lead perimeter threats, and created possessions via steals. That form of two-way play elevates LSU\u2019s ceiling; when Williams leads both scoring and defensive runs, the Tigers profile as a more dangerous tournament team. Jada Richard\u2019s defensive matchups and free-throw reliability add a complementary stabilizing presence late in games.<\/p>\n<p>On a program level, the win breaks a psychological barrier \u2014 the first Top\u20112 victory since 2008 and the end of a 17-game losing streak versus AP Top\u20112 opponents \u2014 which may influence polls, perception and seeding narratives. For Texas, a first loss this late in January recalibrates external expectations but is unlikely to derail the Longhorns\u2019 long-term prospects; the contest highlights areas for improvement, notably ball security and rebounding on the road.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Team<\/th>\n<th>Points<\/th>\n<th>FG<\/th>\n<th>3PT<\/th>\n<th>FT<\/th>\n<th>Rebounds<\/th>\n<th>Turnovers<\/th>\n<th>Second\u2011Chance Pts<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>LSU<\/td>\n<td>70<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Texas<\/td>\n<td>65<\/td>\n<td>25\u2011of\u201157<\/td>\n<td>4\u2011of\u201112<\/td>\n<td>11\u2011of\u201118<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>17<\/td>\n<td>13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Note: Boxscore lists Texas at 25-of-57 overall, 4-of-12 from three and 11-of-18 from the free throw line. LSU\u2019s reported second\u2011chance scoring and the 17 forced turnovers were decisive; official team rebound totals were skewed by LSU\u2019s strong showing in the second quarter (12-4 advantage). These figures underline how possession and extra opportunities tilted the game.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;If you&#8217;re a true basketball junkie, that was an enjoyable game to watch because both teams had just hard-nosed defense. Everything came hard in what you tried to do,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Kim Mulkey, LSU head coach (postgame)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Mulkey credited defensive intensity and ball control as fundamentals that swung the game in LSU\u2019s favor, praising the team\u2019s collective effort on both ends of the floor.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Jada will guard you. Jada takes things that you say and tries to be the coach on the floor, even at a young age,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Kim Mulkey, LSU head coach (on Jada Richard)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Mulkey emphasized Richard\u2019s defensive maturity and free-throw reliability, noting her role as a stabilizer in late-game situations.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We had to take care of the ball first against Texas, and I thought we did a better job when it mattered,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Mikaylah Williams, LSU junior guard<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Williams described the team\u2019s focus on limiting turnovers and converting critical possessions down the stretch, highlighting her late three and defensive plays as momentum shifters.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: Why an AP Top\u20112 win matters<\/summary>\n<p>An AP Top\u20112 victory is a high-value marquee result because it combines national poll recognition with quality-of-opponent metrics used by voters and selection committees. Beating a top-two team signals an ability to perform under pressure and against elite schemes, often improving a team\u2019s Pairwise and NET narratives. For recruiting and program prestige, such wins are referenced in media coverage and can influence future scheduling and TV exposure.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>National TV ratings for the broadcast have not yet been released and cannot be confirmed at this time.<\/li>\n<li>The immediate long-term impact on NCAA tournament seeding projections remains preliminary and will depend on upcoming nonconference and SEC results.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>LSU\u2019s 70-65 upset of No. 2 Texas on January 11, 2026, was a defensive, team-driven victory that showcased Mikaylah Williams\u2019 rising two-way profile and the Tigers\u2019 depth of contributors. The win snaps a long-standing Top\u20112 drought for the program and delivers a signature home-court moment in front of a near-capacity crowd.<\/p>\n<p>For LSU, the result is a r\u00e9sum\u00e9-enhancing triumph that should boost confidence entering the conference schedule and the upcoming road test at No. 5 Oklahoma on January 18. For Texas, the loss is an early-season course correction that highlights turnovers and rebounding as areas to address before conference play deepens.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/lsusports.net\/news\/2026\/01\/11\/lsu-takes-down-texas-70-65\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LSU Athletics<\/a> \u2014 Official team release and boxscore.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncaa.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NCAA<\/a> \u2014 Official statistics and competition framework (official).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead: On January 11, 2026, in Baton Rouge, the No. 12 LSU women\u2019s basketball team defeated No. 2 Texas 70-65 before a sellout crowd of 13,200 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Junior guard Mikaylah Williams paced the Tigers with a 20-point, seven-rebound performance and a career-high five steals to close out the fourth quarter. &#8230; <a title=\"LSU Upsets No. 2 Texas 70-65 in Sellout at PMAC\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/lsu-beats-texas-70-65\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about LSU Upsets No. 2 Texas 70-65 in Sellout at PMAC\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14159,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"LSU Upsets No. 2 Texas 70-65 \u2014 SportsBrief","rank_math_description":"LSU defeated No. 2 Texas 70-65 on Jan. 11, 2026, in front of 13,200 fans at the PMAC; Mikaylah Williams led the Tigers with 20 points and a career-high five steals.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"LSU, Texas, Mikaylah Williams, PMAC, women's basketball","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14163"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14163\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}