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LSU's Rebounding Woes Doom Them in Season-Ending Loss to Duke
Kim Mulkey's Tigers struggle to control the boards, allowing Duke to capitalize on second-chance points.
Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:35pm
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LSU's season came to an end with a heartbreaking loss to Duke in the NCAA Tournament. Despite finishing with the same number of total rebounds, the Tigers were outmatched on the offensive glass, allowing Duke to score 19 second-chance points. Head coach Kim Mulkey cited LSU's inability to secure key rebounds as the difference in the game, as the Tigers failed to get the stop they needed in the final seconds to potentially win.
Why it matters
Rebounding and defensive stops have been hallmarks of Mulkey's teams, so this loss highlights a rare weakness for the Tigers. LSU's struggles on the boards and failure to get consistent defensive stops proved to be their downfall against a talented Duke squad, ending their season earlier than expected.
The details
LSU (29-6, 12-4 SEC) allowed Duke to grab a season-high 21 offensive rebounds, which the Blue Devils converted into 19 second-chance points. The Tigers' frontcourt players combined for just 16 points and were outrebounded 26-16 by Duke's post players. Mulkey said her team couldn't 'get three stops in a row' or 'grab a rebound' when they needed to most, including on the final possession when Duke secured the offensive board that led to the game-winning shot.
- With 9.2 seconds remaining, Duke missed a go-ahead three-pointer, but LSU failed to secure the rebound.
- After the ball was last touched by LSU, Duke retained possession with 2.6 seconds left, setting up the game-winning shot.
The players
Kim Mulkey
The head coach of the LSU women's basketball team, who led the Tigers to a 29-6 record and a spot in the NCAA Tournament before their season-ending loss to Duke.
Kate Koval
A sophomore post player for LSU who was held scoreless in the loss to Duke.
ZaKiyah Johnson
A freshman post player for LSU who was also held scoreless against Duke.
What they’re saying
“Rebounding and second-chance points really beat you. I think 19 points they got off second-chance. We couldn't grab a rebound. And you look at the stats, and we had the same number of rebounds, but that's misleading. We just couldn't get three stops in a row. We couldn't rebound the ball so that we could take off in transition. It was kind of like we were moving in mud.”
— Kim Mulkey, Head Coach, LSU Women's Basketball
“There was that long rebound. We get that, we're going to win the ball game. And we couldn't get that one.”
— Kim Mulkey, Head Coach, LSU Women's Basketball
What’s next
The Tigers will need to focus on improving their rebounding and defensive consistency in the offseason to ensure they are better prepared for a deep NCAA Tournament run next year.
The takeaway
This loss highlighted a rare weakness for the LSU women's basketball team, as their inability to control the boards and get key defensive stops ultimately doomed their season. Moving forward, Mulkey and her staff will need to prioritize strengthening the Tigers' frontcourt and rebounding prowess to recapture the dominant form that has defined her teams.
