Despite starting star forward Angel Reese, LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey surprised by not playing her in the second half against Kent State on Nov. 14, 2023.
The No. 7 Tigers, 3-1, defeated the Golden Flashes 109-79 in the Maravich Center in Baton Rouge.
Reese, a vital player, played most of the first quarter and 13 minutes by halftime. Mulkey went with sophomore forward Aneesah Morrow down low in the second half. Due of Reese's strong team contributions, this choice aroused eyebrows.
Mulkey gave a cryptic explanation for benching Reese and not playing senior guard Kateri Poole, who was dressed and available.
“I could, but I won’t,” Mulkey stated in a post-game press conference video on X, formerly Twitter. “Just a coach’s decision.”
Kim Mulkey replied “yeah” when asked if Morrow and Sa’Myah Smith influenced her decision not to play Reese in the second half, according to Cory Diaz of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser.
Freshman Mikaylah Williams scored 42 points, a career high. Her 32 points in the second half stood out.