Photo credit: facebook/Yahoo Sports
Angel Reese returned to Baton Rouge to a royal welcome, but her former team had another reason to celebrate. LSU delivered a historic performance Thursday night, defeating Texas Southern 131-22 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The 109-point victory established the largest winning margin in Division I women’s basketball history. It surpassed the previous record of 108 points, set by Kim Mulkey’s 2016 Baylor team in a 140-32 victory over Winthrop.
Reese, who played a key role in LSU’s 2023 national championship, received a halftime tribute. The former Tigers star was presented with flowers, a Bayou Barbie sash and a golden crown as fans welcomed her back.
LSU makes history against Texas Southern
The Tigers took control early, but the second quarter turned the game into a record-setting performance. LSU outscored Texas Southern 40-0 in the period, extending its halftime advantage to 65-13.
Jada Williams scored 16 of her 18 points in that quarter. Anna Minaeva led LSU overall with 21 points in her college debut. Mikaylah Williams added 20, while LSU finished with 53 made field goals, a program record.
Texas Southern struggled to find its rhythm. The team shot 14.5% from the field and committed 38 turnovers. LSU, meanwhile, recorded nine turnovers and scored 55 points off its opponent’s mistakes.
The final score marked a difficult night for the visiting Tigers, whose Jayla Cornelius led the team with six points.
Angel Reese returns to LSU 🐯👑
The Bayou Barbie is back 🔥 https://t.co/uKI5eCmHEr
— espnW (@espnW) November 6, 2026
Reese returns with a record-breaking season
The celebration came shortly after Reese completed her third WNBA season with the Atlanta Dream. She was named the league’s 2026 Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in franchise history to receive the award.
Her professional season also included 521 rebounds and 32 double-doubles, both WNBA single-season records. She became the first player in league history to collect at least 500 rebounds in one season.
Reese’s return also brought her back to the program where she helped deliver LSU’s first national championship in 2023. The announced crowd of 9,591 gave her a standing ovation during the recognition.
A different chapter from the last meeting
Thursday’s game carried an interesting connection to the teams’ previous meeting on Nov. 20, 2023. LSU won that contest 106-47, but Reese was absent after missing her second consecutive game. Mulkey declined to explain her absence at the time.
Reese returned to the lineup weeks later. Her career eventually moved from LSU to the WNBA, where she has continued to establish herself as one of the league’s leading rebounders and defenders.
This time, she watched from the stands as LSU made another piece of basketball history against the same opponent.
The Tigers are scheduled to host McNeese on Nov. 10. Meanwhile, Reese’s return offered Baton Rouge a chance to celebrate both her professional achievements and the championship legacy she helped build at LSU.
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