One of the LSU women’s basketball team’s eight newcomers missed a shot from the free-throw line, but another positioned herself to clean it up.

Once ZaKiyah Johnson’s put-back attempt banked off the glass and through the rim, the No. 5 Tigers officially began the 2025-26 season, their fifth under coach Kim Mulkey. What turned into an 108-55 rout of Houston Christian on Tuesday in the Pete Maravich Assembly center started with Johnson’s layup — the type of field goal that LSU scored throughout its lopsided season-opening win.

The Tigers debuted a roster with five freshmen and three transfers.

But the overhauled group still won in the same ways a Mulkey-coached team usually wins. The defensive rebounds sparked transition chances, and offensive boards led to second-chance looks.

Johnson —

See Full Page