LSU will come into Bossier City undefeated Sunday thanks in large part to former Parkway star Mikaylah Williams.
The sophomore guard sank a jumper with two seconds left to send the game into overtime and the Tigers went on to defeat Stanford 94-88 in an SEC-ACC Challenge game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge Thursday night.
LSU, ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25, improved to 10-0. Unranked Stanford dropped to 7-2.
LSU plays Grambling State at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Brookshire Grocery Arena.
Williams scored a game-high 32 points. She was 12-of-18 from the field, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range, and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. She also had nine rebounds and no turnovers.
“With the guards that we have and the team that we have on any given night it could be anybody’s night,” Williams said. “And it just so happened to be my night tonight. And I knew my shot was falling. And at the last play I realized they were sagging off and playing off and I just decided to make a play and the rest was history.”
Stanford went up 78-72 on a pair of free throws with 40 seconds left.
Williams was fouled making a layup off a fast break. She made the free throw to get the Tigers within 78-75 with 33 seconds left.
Jzaniya Harriel made two free throws to put the Cardinal up 80-75 with 23 seconds left.
Gilbert hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 80-78 with 17 seconds left.
The Tigers’ Flau’jae Johnson forced a turnover with 15 seconds left.
Williams then hit a shot in the paint just inside the free throw line to tie it.
“As long as there is time on the clock we still have a chance to win,” Williams said. “And then just staying disciplined when we weren’t playing and and making shots and a little bit of God is what happened.”
She gave LSU the lead for good with a 3-pointer 16 seconds into overtime.
Stanford got within one, but the Tigers went on a 5-0 run to go up 88-82.
The Cardinal rallied to within 88-86 with 1:05 left. But Williams answered with another 3-pointer. The Tigers extended the lead to eight with 13 seconds left.
Gilbert finished with 25 points. She was 9-of-12 from the field and 6-of-7 from the line.
Johnson scored 21 and had six assists. Aneesah Morrow had a team-high 16 rebounds.
Stanford started the game on fire and led 28-15 after the first quarter. LSU rallied in the second and trailed 39-37 at the half.
Stanford led 57-52 after three quarters. The Cardinal led 74-68 with 3:06 left.
Nunu Agara led Stanford with 29 points and 13 rebounds. Brooke Demetre added 19 points.
—