LSU breaks Division I record with 131-22 win over Texas Southern

With the college women's basketball season just underway, LSU already made history.

On Thursday, the No. 9 Tigers hosted Texas Southern (also the Tigers) for LSU's second game of the season. The result was a decisive 131-22 rout in favor of LSU, breaking a record for the biggest Division I win in NCAA history.

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey took the opportunity to utilize her bench: Seven different players ended with 20 or more minutes on the court, with 10 players getting on the board. Seven players scored in double digits of the blowout.

The 109-point margin of victory broke an NCAA Division I record by a point. The previous record was Baylor's 140-32 victory over Winthrop in 2016. That coincidentally also happened under Mulkey, who was the head coach of the Lady Bears until she was hired away by LSU in 2021.

The massive win came with a wild second quarter, where LSU scored 40 points while allowing zero. Texas Southern's 22 points was also the fewest allowed under Mulkey, per ESPN ; 13 of those points were scored in the first quarter, with LSU holding Texas Southern to nine points in the second half.

Freshman Anna Minaeva — a Russian-born player whose signing this summer created controversy and led a Ukrainian player to transfer — led both teams with 21 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Starting senior guard Mikaylah Williams pitched in 20 points.

LSU also used the game to honor former forward Angel Reese, who was presented with flowers the week after her impressive showing at the WNBA Finals.

LSU's easy early-season schedule will continue in the coming weeks, with the team hosting opponents like McNeese and Denver to get ready for higher-stakes SEC play.

The Tigers' first real test will take place in late November, with a home matchup against No. 25-ranked NC State, followed by a game at No. 9 North Carolina on Dec. 2. LSU will face No. 2 UConn, who lost to Michigan on Thursday , on Dec. 20.