After two straight losses, the No. 12-ranked LSU Tigers didn’t need noise; they needed a response. And against the Georgia Lady Bulldogs on Thursday night, the Tigers finally delivered one, as Flau’jae Johnson led them to an 80-59 win.

The senior guard finished with 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks, but that’s not all; with such an impressive performance, she also became the ninth player in LSU women’s basketball history to surpass 1,800 career points. However, what stood out afterward wasn’t just the scoring or the record.

According to Cory Diaz, in a postgame interview, Johnson revealed that her demand of her teammates focused on belief – both in one another and in themselves.

“I told them to not only believe in each other, but believe in themselves,” she said.

And that mindset paid off on the floor. The Tigers played with sharper energy, more purpose, and a collective confidence that had been missing in their past two games, where in one of them, Flau’jae Johnson scored 0. But this time her scoring came naturally within the flow of the offense, and the Tigers fed off that rhythm as the game progressed, refusing to let Georgia’s brief runs dictate the tempo.

Even when the Bulldogs trimmed the lead to just 5 points in the third quarter, the Tigers responded quickly and didn’t let them get any closer.

In the end, LSU had four players reach double figures, as they secured their first conference win of the 2025-26 NCAA season. But this response was only the first step in what promises to be a far more demanding SEC stretch.

What’s next for Flau’jae Johnson and Co.?

With this win under their belt, the Tigers currently sit at 15-2. The only two losses they have faced so far came against the No. 6 Kentucky Wildcats and the No. 7 Vanderbilt Commodores. Out of the three games they have played in their conference so far, they have only won one. The Tigers cruised through non-conference play unbeaten and untouched, often overwhelming their opponents with athleticism and pressure defense.

But once SEC play began, the cracks in their empire got more visible. Defensively, the Tigers have leaned heavily on aggression, but that approach has come with a cost. Head coach Kim Mulkey has repeatedly pointed out the team’s tendency to gamble – jumping passing lanes and reaching instead of staying disciplined. So against elite SEC guards, those risks backfired, leaving the back line exposed and opening the door for easy baskets.

Despite having size in the frontcourt, LSU has struggled to impose physicality in the paint, allowing opponents to drive with little deterrence. But after their latest win, coach Mulkey has been nothing but positive.

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“I’ve been in this business too long,” she said, as per Nola. “I’ve lost back-to-back games before. It’s fun. It’s challenging. It’s frustrating. It’s hard – all those things when you coach in the SEC. To have eight (new) players in our locker room, as I tell them, just play hard, and you’re gonna win your share of them.”

For their next game, the Tigers will lock horns with the No. 2 Texas Longhorns on January 11th at Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, LA. A highly anticipated game predicted to be in favor of the Tigers with 51.8% by ESPN. Following that, they will play against:

• The No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners on January 18th.
• The Texas A&M Aggies on January 22nd.
• The Florida Gators on January 26th.

As the season moves forward, wins will no longer come from pressure alone, but from discipline, toughness, and leadership when the game tightens, and that’s why Flau’jae Johnson’s response against Georgia carried weight beyond the box score, as the Tigers are still learning who they are in conference play.