Flau'jae Johnson leads LSU to walkover win Women's NCAA Tournament

BATON ROUGE, LA ― LSU head coach Kim Mulkey and the No. 2 LSU Tigers steamrolled the No. 15 Jacksonville Dolphins, 116-58, to advance to the second round of the March Madness.

On Friday, it was LSU after the first quarter, and the Tigers never looked back. By the end of the third quarter, LSU had already scored 94 points en route to its 15th 100-point game of the season, which tied an NCAA record for the most 100-point games in a season with Long Beach State (1986-1987). The Tigers' 116 points were also the most points the program has ever scored in an NCAA Tournament matchup.

Unsurprisingly, the LSU had seven players in double figures after shooting 60% from the field. Flau'jae Johnson led all scorers with a game-high 20 points and five rebounds. She also had three steals. Mikaylah Williams added a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Williams had five rebounds as well.

"We were itching. We were itching to play basketball. I was excited to come in here. Everybody was excited. The energy was great," Williams said after the win. "We came in trying to be disciplined, trying to share the ball, trying to get everybody involved, trying to get a lot of post touches. I think we came in and executed our game plan."

"We've been practicing, practicing, practicing, having great intentional practices. That's what we've been doing in practice and how focused we've been," Johnson said.

For Jacksonville, just two players finished with double digits, after the team's leading scorer, Priscilla Williams, couldn't finish the game due to injury. Carmaya Bowman led the Dolphins with 14 points. Unfortunately, turnovers doomed Jacksonville. The Dolphins had 28 giveaways that LSU took advantage of by scoring 38 points. "We've had a phenomenal year, right? I'll stick to that. My players have been resilient all year. They've played extremely hard for me. They've played for each other. They celebrate each other," Jacksonville coach Special Jennings said after the loss.

"It's unfortunate that Priscilla Williams went out with an injury and was not able to finish her career on her terms, but we've had a great run, right? I'm extremely proud of these young ladies."

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LSU's lead grows to 50 against Jacksonville

Not much is going wrong for the Tigers on Friday in Baton Rouge. The Jacksonville Dolphins ran out of steam just before the midway point of the fourth quarter. LSU is getting whatever it wants after sloppy play from the Dolphins. The lead ballooned to 50 points, 104-54, with 6:26 remaining in regulation.

Third quarter: LSU 94, Jacksonville 48

If anyone had LSU scoring 94 points in three quarters, they deserve a huge prize. The Tigers are well on their way to their 15th 100-point game of the season after scoring 30 points in the period. LSU is shooting 73% from the field compared to Jacksonville's 31%.

The Tigers have four in double figures, including three with 16 points apiece. Carmaya Bowman is the lone Dolphins player in double digits with 12 points.

LSU is rolling against Jacksonville

At the 4:20 mark of the third quarter, LSU is nearly 40 points after a 9-0 run. It certainly helps that Flau'jae Johnson sank a triple from deep, and the Tigers followed it up with a nifty Mikaylah Williams behind-the-back pass to Jada Richard.

Jacksonville's Priscilla Williams is out for the game

Jacksonville's task is even tougher, with Priscilla Williams ruled out for the rest of the game.

The Dolphins leading scorer and rebounder left the game in the first quarter after injuring her left elbow in a fall. Williams looked upset as she was worked on by the training staff, and later appeared on the bench with her left arm in a sling.

Halftime: LSU 64, Jacksonville 36

LSU's 64 points is the team's most ever in the first half of an NCAA tournament game, topping the 59 the Tigers scored against Iowa in the first half of the 2023 title game.

"What I've seen all year. We can score the ball," LSU coach Kim Mulkey said when asked what she saw from her team offensively as the Tigers jumped out to a 64-36 lead.

Mikaylah Williams leads LSU with 16 points, and Flau'jae Johnson (13) and ZaKiyah Johnson (10) are also in double figures. But this is a balanced effort, with all but one LSU player scoring in the first half and the Tigers shooting 56% from the floor.

That doesn't mean Mulkey was satisfied, however. After a rough first quarter, the Dolphins settled down a bit in the second and were outscored just 30-22. Carmaya Bowman had six of her team-high 10 points in the second quarter.

"Our defense has got to get better," Mulkey said. "They have 36 points. ... That's too many."

This was always going to be an uphill battle for Jacksonville. It is a 2-15 matchup, after all. But the Dolphins are playing without leading scorer Priscilla Williams, who injured her left arm in the first quarter, and Jacksonville is already in big foul trouble.

Bailey Burns had three fouls in the first half while Williams, Comari Mitchell and Mariah Knight have two each.

Priscilla Williams injury

Priscilla Williams, Jacksonville's leading scorer, appears to have injured her left arm.

Williams left the game with 2:14 left in the first quarter after falling awkwardly on her left side. She appeared to be upset as she was worked on by the training staff, and was later shown wearing a sling on her left arm.

Williams, who leads the Dolphins with 15.4 points per game, also had two fouls in the first quarter.

LSU leads 34-14 after first quarter

The rout is on.

LSU came out fast and has kept its foot on the gas, taking a 34-14 lead over Jacksonville after the first quarter. The 34 points is the most LSU has scored in the first quarter in any NCAA tournament game, and it's come in a balanced effort. All but two of the eight players who've been on the floor for LSU have scored, with Mikaylah Williams leading the Tigers with nine points and Flau'jae Johnson adding seven.

It's not just offensively where the Tigers are dominating. They're winning the battle of the boards 17-5, and harassed Jacksonville into eight turnovers in the first quarter.

Even more concerning for Jacksonville? Two players, including leading scorer Priscilla Williams, already have two fouls.

Grace Knox takes a seat

This isn't going to be a big factor, but LSU's Grace Knox picked up her second foul with 3:27 still to play in the first quarter.

LSU led 27-9 when Knox picked up her second foul, and she immediately headed for the Tigers' bench. With that big a lead, LSU coach Kim Mulkey can afford to sit her for as long as she needs.

LSU off to fast start

LSU is setting the tone early, jumping out to a 14-0 lead. The Tigers have more field goals than Jacksonville has shot attempts.

Mulkey fit check

LSU and Jacksonville starting lineups

Here are the starting lineups for the Tigers and the Dolphins.

LSU Tigers starting lineup

Head coach: Kim Mulkey

• 13 Kate Koval | F 6-5 - Sophomore
• 4 Flau'jae Johnson | G 5-10 - Senior
• 11 Zakiyah Johnson | G 6-0 - Freshman
• 12 Mikaylah Williams | G 6-0 - Junior
• 30 Jada Richard | G 5-7 - Sophomore

Jacksonville Dolphins starting lineup

Head coach: Special Jennings

• 2 Tatum Brown | G 5-6 - Freshman
• 5 Comari Mitchell | G 5-8 - Sophomore
• 10 Carmaya Bowman | F 6-0 - Junior
• 23 Priscilla Williams | G 6-4 - Senior
• 24 Makiya Miller | G 5-7 - Senior

LSU has some fresh sneakers for the first round

What time is Jacksonville vs LSU first-round game?

No. 2 LSU vs No. 15 Jacksonville tips off at 6:00 PM (EST) on Friday, March 20 from Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).

What channel is Jacksonville vs LSU first-round game?

No. 2 LSU vs No. 15 Jacksonville is airing live on ESPN.

How to stream Jacksonville vs LSU first-round game

No. 2 LSU vs No. 15 Jacksonville is available to stream on Fubo.

Women's March Madness schedule today

See the schedule, live scores and resultsfor all of Friday's NCAA Tournament action here.

2026 Women's NCAA Tournament full schedule

• March 18-19: First Four
• March 20-21: First Round
• March 22-23: Second Round
• March 27-28: Sweet 16
• March 29-30: Elite 8
• April 3: Final Four
• April 5: National Championship