How to Watch: Kim Mulkey, LSU WBB Challenge the Arkansas Razorbacks in SEC Opener

Mulkey and Co. will challenge the Razorbacks on the road, open SEC play in an expected "dogfight" on Thursday.

Dec 17, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; LSU Lady Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey watches from the sideline as they take on the Seton Hall Pirates at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images

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No. 6 LSU (15-0) will begin play in the Southeastern Conference against Arkansas (7-8) on Thursday at 8 p.m. CT in Bud Walton Arena on the SEC Network.

“Arkansas has the leading scorer in the SEC,” Coach Kim Mulkey said. “Every time you play someone in the SEC it’s going to be a dogfight. If you keep fighting and you win enough of those dogfights, you’re going to be in a good position.”

In all three of Kim Mulkey’s first season leading LSU, the Tigers have finished No. 2 in the SEC. This is the deepest the SEC has been in recent memory, currently with eight teams ranked in the AP Poll, including 4 in the top-10; No. 2 South Carolina, No. 5 Texas, No. 6 LSU and No. 9 Oklahoma.

“The SEC is different this year with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma,” Coach Mulkey said. “Both of those programs are well respected in Women’s Basketball and across the board in all sports. We’ve made things a lot harder, and I think it’s a good thing for women’s basketball and the SEC.”

Brenda VanLengen and Anne O’Neil will call the action on the SEC Network. Fans can also listen to Patrick Wright and Shaeeta Williams on the LSU Sports Radio Network.

LSU is currently tied for its second-best start in program history. The 2002-03 team also started its season 15-0 and made a run to the Elite Eight.

The 2022-23 team, who also started SEC play on the road at Arkansas, recorded the best start in program history at 23-0 before claiming LSU’s first national championship.

Arkansas was the only SEC team to finish non-conference play with a losing record. Izzy Higginbottom has been the Razorbacks’ most consistent scorer. She leads the SEC scoring 23.6 points per game, including a 38-point outing against Boston College in early December.

The Arkansas guard does most of her damage inside the three-point line. Kiki Smith is the only other Arkansas player averaging double figures at 11.7 points per game.

The Tigers enter the game is one of the nation’s top rebounding teams. LSU ranks No. 2 in the country with 50.3 rebounds per game and No. 3 with a +17.6 rebound margin.

Aneesah Morrow has helped that cause for the Tigers as the nation’s top rebounder with 14.3 rebounds per game. Arkansas has the worst rebound margin in the conference at -4.5.

Morrow has been critical to LSU’s start to the season. In addition to her rebounding, she has also scored 18.4 points per game (6th in SEC) and is the only player in the country this season with at least 250 points and 200 rebounds.

She leads the nation with 13 double-doubles. With 87 career double-doubles, her next will tie her for the fourth most in NCAA DI history.

Morrow is not the only Tiger to rank towards the top of the SEC stat standings. Flau’Jae Jonson’s 20.5 points per game rank No. 4 in the SEC and No. 15 nationally. She has scored 20+ points in nine games this season and is the only SEC guard with multiple 20+ point double-doubles. Mikaylah Williams ranks No. 10 in the SEC with 16.5 points per game.

Jersey Wolfenbarger has started four games in a row for LSU. She is in her first season at LSU after transferring from Arkansas as she returns back to her home state. The Fort Smith, Arkansas native is averaging 7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She had career highs with 19 points and 15 rebounds against Louisiana-Lafayette.

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