The national champion LSU women’s basketball team was back in action in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Thursday night for an exhibition game with East Texas Baptist.

Kim Mulkey used Thursday’s game for the newcomers to get used to being in the purple and gold. While it was just an exhibition game, neither Angel Reese nor Flau’jae Johnson were in the starting lineup. 

Instead, three of the five starters were freshmen, and they made the most of their time to get used to the college pace. Reese, Johnson, and the rest of the returners entered the game in the second quarter.

“I wanted to see the new ones. I wanted to see them have an opportunity to start in an LSU uniform,” Mulkey said. “I wanted to do something different and then bring the kids in that were here last year.”

Johnson led the team with 18 points and seven steals. Angel Reese was right behind with 17 points and seven rebounds. On top of her defense in the paint, her defense also looked better outside the paint, adding seven steals to her night. 

Sa’Myah Smith also showed the product of her hardworking offseason, as she finished with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. In the second half, she scored 14 of her 16 points.

But if Mulkey was looking for who could emerge themselves early on out of the group of new faces, she might have found some clarity.

Mikaylah Williams is a freshman that could start from Game 1, and she showed why she could Thursday night. The No. 1 overall player in the Class of 2023 finished the game with 10 points and eight rebounds. 

“I think Mikaylah [Williams] will quickly tell you that she’s had to go harder every day for a long time than she’s ever had to in her life because she’s always been the dominant player,” Mulkey said. “But she’s a good player, she has the body to bang with you.”

Hailey Van Lith facilitated well at point guard, a role she expects to fill from the start of the regular season. She scored nine points along with two rebounds. 

In addition, Aneesah Morrow showed her paint presence, and she could be a starter right away as well based on her double-double average season at DePaul last season. She finished with 10 points and nine rebounds on the night. Morrow had eight of her nine rebounds in just the first quarter alone.

“A big focus for me tonight was defensively,” Morrow said. “That’s one of the biggest goals for me this season. So, I’d say that was my why tonight.”

Aalyah Del Rosario used her height to her advantage, adding five points and five rebounds, and Janae Kent added 10 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Jayla Hall led East Texas Baptist with five points and two rebounds.

The competition wasn’t what it would be in the regular season on Thursday night; LSU’s defense forced 39 turnovers on the night. However, it was a good opportunity to see her returners get back into the swing of things and to see what her newcomers can provide early on.

The Tigers will be back in action on Wednesday, November 1 in another exhibition game against Loyola University (New Orleans). That matchup will tip-off at 7 p.m. C.T. from the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.