LSU women's basketball vs. Ole Miss: Score prediction, scouting report

Shortly after No. 1 South Carolina ran away with an 88-64 win Sunday, Kim Mulkey vowed that then-No. 2 LSU women's basketball wouldn't allow a hangover of any sort from its first defeat on the season.

The Tigers (23-1, 11-1 SEC) will welcome a formidable opponent in Ole Miss (20-5, 9-3), a top four team in the league, to test their moxie and mental state inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Thursday (8 p.m., SEC Network).

Following a big win at home over Tennessee two weeks ago, LSU came out flat against Arkansas and nearly gave that game away. What will the Tigers' energy be like after another emotional contest against the Gamecocks?

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LSU women's basketball offense vs. Ole Miss' defense

It starts on the defensive end for coach Yolette McPhee-McCuin and her Rebels. They held No. 7 Utah and No. 13 Oklahoma to just 69 points each earlier this season. Senior center Rita Igbokwe, a Pitt transfer, has been playing consistent ball of late while Ole Miss is stingy on the perimeter.

LSU star Angel Reese didn't have her best game against South Carolina's talented front line, with 16 points and only four rebounds. The sophomore getting back on track will be key for the Tigers.

Can LSU's Flau'jae Johnson, Jasmine Carson break out?

Senior wing Jasmine Carson has mustered 14 total points on 5-of-20 shooting the last four games. Freshman Flau'jae Johnson has put up 30 points in the last five games for LSU. She failed to score at South Carolina, the first time she has been held scoreless.

Down the stretch of this season, LSU will need its perimeter players to pitch in some production, and things have tough as both Johnson and Carson's slumps have taken hold.

Ole Miss will be a tough matchup – can Mulkey get one or both to break out of their struggles?

LSU must limit Angel Baker, Madison Scott

The Rebels have one of the better inside-outside tandems in the SEC with senior Angel Baker and junior Madison Scott. They combine for 27 points per game and are efficient, forcing teams to defend both levels.

Before the South Carolina game, LSU had done a nice job of taking away opponents' strengths. Can it get back to those ways against Ole Miss?

Score prediction

LSU 72, Ole Miss 61: LSU has Reese, who will get back on track, and it also plays sound defense to take away the Rebels' best options, to return to the win column.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU women's basketball vs. Ole Miss: Score prediction, scouting report