By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – LSU head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey likes to say she doesn’t know if her freshman recruits can contribute in their first year until she can eyeball them daily in practice.
That said, here’s her assessment on freshman Grace Knox after she had career highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds in the Tigers’ 110-45 demolition of Texas-Arlington on Sunday afternoon.
“I don’t even know if this kid realizes how special she can become,” Mulkey said.
In a five-member freshman signing class that has combined to average more than 30 points and 15 rebounds for the unbeaten No. 5-ranked Tigers, the 6-2 Knox has consistently played fearless and physical. She’s averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds.
Even before the Las Vegas native arrived at LSU as the nation’s No. 6-ranked recruit in the Class of 2025, she established her two-prong playing philosophy.
Play hard.
“If we’re gonna play, why not be as competitive as you can and go as hard as you can?” she said several months ago. “Because if you’re not going hard, to me, it’s not fun. It’s not how the game’s supposed to be played.”
And also contribute in ways besides scoring.
“I was taught that other things matter, like rebounding, 50/50 balls, playing defense,” she said. “Those can really determine the game at the end of the day.”
Once on campus, Knox’s work in LSU’s weight room has made her stronger than she appears.
“She’s just an athlete,” Mulkey said. “Good lord, you can’t block her out. You can’t keep her from flying to the boards. She finishes in traffic.
“She works really hard defensively. You’re not going to bury Grace too many times in that paint. She’ll pull that chair out from under you and try to get a deflection.”
Knox was clearly the Tigers’ brightest star among their galaxy of dazzling athletes against UT-Arlington (6-6), which had won four of its last five games, including a 61-60 decision over SEC member Texas A&M.
The 13-0 Tigers, now 32-0 in December in Mulkey’s five seasons, used smothering defense and relentless rebounding to dismantle the visiting Mavericks quickly.
LSU scored 42 points off 34 UT-Arlington turnovers and had 33 second-chance points. UT-Arlington had almost three times as many turnovers as made field goals (12).
Also, the Tigers blasted the Mavericks 62-29 in rebounding. They had almost as many offensive rebounds (26) as UT-Arlington’s team total.
Knox and East Carolina transfer Amiya Joyner, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds, helped control the inside for the Tigers.
The perimeter was patrolled by Jada Richard and MiLaysha Fulwiley, LSU’s starting and backup point guards. They combined for 33 points, 12 rebounds, and nine steals.
South Carolina transfer Fulwiley had 23 points and five steals in 23:28 of playing time off the bench. Richard had 10 points and four steals in 23:21.
Mulkey experimented by playing Richard and Fulwiley together in the backcourt for several long stretches.
“Jada knows our system better, but anytime you put `Lay’ on the floor with anybody, she makes us faster,” Mulkey said of Fulwiley. “When she’s locked in, she gives tremendous ball pressure. When you have somebody that has those qualities, it kind of rubs off on everybody else.”
The Tigers missed four of their first five layups and led just 9-7 after the game’s opening 3½ minutes.
Then, to the delight of the crowd of 11,163, LSU went on a 31-6 run in the next 13 minutes for a 40-13 lead enroute to a 57-21 halftime cushion. The rally was fueled by defense as UT-Arlington missed 15 of 17 shots and had 16 turnovers that led to 20 LSU points.
Knox and Fulwiley scored 8 points each in the third quarter as the Tigers pushed their lead to 83-35 entering the final period.
A three-point play by freshman reserve center Meghan Yarnevich pushed LSU past the 100-point mark for the 11th time this season.
Freshman forward ZaKiyah Johnson, who has averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in 11 starts this season, did not play Sunday. Mulkey said Johnson was being disciplined but didn’t disclose the reason.
“She knows why she’s not playing and it ain’t a big deal,” Mulkey said. “She’s a great kid. It’s just a one-game deal to get her attention.”
The Tigers scattered after the game for Christmas break. They’ll play their final non-conference game next Sunday vs. Alabama State at 3 p.m.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com