BATON ROUGE, La. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle between two of the Southeastern Conference’s top teams, LSU edged Texas 70-65 in a women’s basketball showdown Sunday at a raucous Maravich Assembly Center.

The game, a rematch of last season’s NCAA tournament regional final, lived up to its billing as a physical, grind-it-out affair. Neither team shot above 39% from the field, but LSU’s ability to capitalize at the free-throw line and generate key turnovers proved decisive in handing the Longhorns their first loss of the season.

Texas, which entered the game with an unblemished 18-0 record, struggled to find consistent offense outside of its star duo. The Longhorns’ 17 turnovers, which LSU converted into 11 points, stifled numerous possessions, while their 11-of-18 performance from the charity stripe left crucial points off the board.

LSU, now 15-2, was led by Mikaylah Williams, who shook off a recent scoring slump with a game-high 20 points. The guard from Bossier City added seven rebounds, four assists and a critical four steals, providing the steadying force the Tigers needed in a game defined by runs and defensive stops.

The most pivotal sequence came late in the fourth quarter with LSU clinging to a 61-59 lead. After a Texas defensive stand, the Longhorns had a chance to tie or take the lead. But with just over a minute to play, Williams delivered the dagger, draining a deep 3-pointer off an assist from Amiya Joyner to push the LSU lead to five points. Texas would get no closer than three the rest of the way, as the Tigers sealed the game by making six consecutive free throws in the final 23 seconds.

Texas was carried by the formidable inside-outside combination of Madison Booker and Kyla Oldacre. Booker, a guard from Ridgeland, Mississippi, scored 24 points but was hampered by seven turnovers. Oldacre, a 6-foot-6 center from Mason, Ohio, was a force in the paint, recording a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds to go with three blocks.

The Longhorns’ interior defense was formidable, blocking nine LSU shots, but they were ultimately undone by the Tigers’ balance. While Williams led the scoring, five other LSU players scored between 10 and six points. ZaKiyah Johnson, Flau’jae Johnson and MiLaysia Fulwiley each contributed 10 points, with Fulwiley’s all coming in the second half. Jada Richard also scored 10, all from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, showcasing the Tigers’ depth.

LSU’s defense was equally disruptive, matching Texas’s physicality. The Tigers recorded 11 steals and forced the Longhorns into an offensive rating of just 88.4 points per 100 possessions. The Tigers also won the battle on the offensive glass, grabbing 15 rebounds to Texas’s nine, which led to 11 second-chance points.

The game was a stark contrast to the offensive fireworks both teams have displayed this season. Texas, which had been averaging over 88 points per game, was held to a season-low 65. LSU’s defensive effort, particularly in containing Texas’s guards on the perimeter where the Longhorns shot just 4 of 12 from 3-point range, was the cornerstone of the victory.

The win marks a significant rebound for LSU after a close conference loss to Vanderbilt earlier in the week and solidifies the Tigers as a contender in the SEC. For Texas, the loss ends a remarkable start to the season but sets the stage for a highly anticipated rematch when LSU visits Austin on Feb. 5.

Both teams continue conference play next week. Texas travels to face South Carolina on Thursday, while LSU hosts Missouri on Saturday.