Coach Kim Mulkey reacts to historic freshman performance vs. Kent State

At this point, it’s safe to say that coach Kim Mulkey and LSU women’s basketball have officially found their star of the present and future. Today, freshman guard Mikaylah Williams put on a show, scoring 42 points in the win over Kent State.

LSU women’s basketball freshman guard Mikaylah Williams puts up 42 on Kent State

In the NCAA era, no LSU women’s basketball freshman has scored 42 points in just one game – until today.

The Tigers took on Kent State today and looked sluggish throughout the first half. They put up just 39 points and went into the break up two. Something needed to change, and someone needed to step up.

This is where we insert guard Mikaylah Williams.

The star freshman out of Bossier City, LA, scored 42 points in just 36 minutes of playing time. She also added seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals to her effort.

Not your average freshman 👽 pic.twitter.com/UIrOyXuoS3

— LSU Women’s Basketball (@LSUwbkb) November 14, 2023

Coach Kim Mulkey and LSU women’s basketball would finish the game on a 70-42 run in the second half, easily putting away the Golden Flashes.

Not only would her 42 points help her team to a win, but they also made her the first Tiger freshman to record that many points in one game in the NCAA era.

Notably, while this was an LSU women’s basketball freshman record in the NCAA era, Maree Jackson scored 44 and 45 in games as a freshman from 1976 to 1977. Still, this doesn’t make the star guard’s performance any less impressive.

Coach Kim Mulkey reacts to the historic performance

The scariest part about her performance tonight is that this is just her fourth career game as a Tiger. She’s barely begun to reach her collegiate potential, and that’s something that can even get coach Kim Mulkey excited.

The pass
The pre-shot celly
The shot

Perfection@Flaujae x @mkwill12_ pic.twitter.com/8JUHkfiU9i

— LSU Women’s Basketball (@LSUwbkb) November 14, 2023

“She can score anywhere. I’ve been riding her and riding her because – as good as she is, I don’t think she knows how good she is,” the LSU women’s basketball head coach said about the freshman.

Mikaylah Williams is widely known for her ability to shoot the three, but she can score from pretty much anywhere on the floor. As she continues to grow as an athlete, it’s hard to imagine how much better she can be.

“I think a lot of it’s gonna come with just making her play extended minutes as hard as she can,” coach Mulkey continued. “She’s gonna have bad moments. We all know that, but you saw today what she’s capable of doing, and you haven’t even asked her about the seven rebounds she had.”

Coming out of high school, Williams was the No. 2 rated recruit in the class of 2023. The expectations were undoubtedly high, but even with the incredible amount of talented freshmen this year, she looks like one of the very best.

“She’s a special talent. I guess it’s those moments where you just feel that rim’s as big as the ocean.”

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