Johnson Scores 33 as LSU Routs Southeastern

ZaKiyah Johnson posted a career-high 33 points in LSU's 129-35 season-opening win over Southeastern Louisiana.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive sports illustration in purple and gold with brushed motion, a basketball player driving past a defender in a contrasting uniform inside a warm-lit arena. — LSU's ZaKiyah Johnson scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Tigers' 129-35 season-opening rout of Southeastern Louisiana on Monday in Baton Rouge. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

LSU defeated Southeastern Louisiana 129-35 in its season opener on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Baton Rouge. Sophomore ZaKiyah Johnson led the way with 33 points and 13 rebounds, one shy of her career best.

Why it matters

Johnson's performance comes after Coach Kim Mulkey moved her to the post for her sophomore season, a change made because LSU was thin in the post last year. Her production in the first game offers an early read on how the reshuffled frontcourt may function.

Johnson's 33 points and 13 rebounds in the opener were drawn from a single game against Southeastern Louisiana, a small-conference opponent. Her 13 rebounds sit one short of her career high, a figure that reflects her role at the post.

The players

ZaKiyah Johnson

LSU sophomore forward who was named All-SEC as a freshman and was recruited as a perimeter player before shifting to the post.

Kim Mulkey

LSU head women's basketball coach who moved Johnson to the post position for the sophomore season.

Mikaylah Williams

LSU senior guard on the Tigers' roster for the 2026-27 season.

The details

Johnson was recruited by LSU as a perimeter player but played in the post during her freshman season, when the Tigers were thin inside. Last season she was named All-SEC and played six minutes without scoring in LSU's Sweet 16 loss to Duke. In the season opener she was asked to play mostly down low.

Last season: Johnson played in the post during her freshman season.
NCAA Tournament, last season: Johnson played six minutes and did not score in the Sweet 16 loss to Duke.
Monday, Nov. 2, 2026: LSU beat Southeastern Louisiana 129-35 in the season opener.

Season Trajectory

Johnson's post role follows the usage she first showed during LSU's freshman-year run, when the Tigers lacked depth inside. Her 33-point opener extends that pattern into a planned sophomore-year role rather than a stopgap.

Johnson's move to the post gives LSU's frontcourt a scoring option that can work inside and on the perimeter, which matters for fantasy and bracket planning. Her 13 rebounds signal a role that could drive her stat lines through the conference season.

The takeaway

Johnson's opener shows how a positional change can reshape a player's production, turning a perimeter recruit into a double-double threat in the post. Readers following the team can track whether that role holds as conference play begins.