BATON ROUGE, La. (Interstat) — In a dominant season-opening display of force, the LSU women’s basketball team overwhelmed Houston Christian from the opening tip, cruising to a 108-55 victory Tuesday night before a crowd of 9,431 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The game was a showcase of the Tigers’ superior depth, athleticism, and defensive pressure, which proved insurmountable for the visiting Huskies. LSU’s relentless attack was evident in every facet of the game, as they forced Houston Christian into 33 turnovers, converting those miscues into a staggering 46 points. The Tigers also controlled the interior, outscoring the Huskies 56-18 in the paint and hauling in 20 offensive rebounds to Houston Christian’s five.

LSU set the tone immediately, opening the game on a 10-0 run before Houston Christian could get on the board. The first quarter was a microcosm of the entire contest, with the Tigers using a swarming defense to create easy transition opportunities. LSU led 26-13 after the first period and extended that lead to 53-27 by halftime.

The onslaught continued after the break, with LSU erupting for 34 points in the third quarter to put the game completely out of reach at 87-45. The Tigers’ offensive efficiency was remarkable, as they shot 53.2 percent from the floor and dished out 23 assists on 42 made baskets. Defensively, LSU recorded 23 steals and seven blocks, consistently disrupting Houston Christian’s offensive sets.

Freshman guard MiLaysia Fulwiley led all scorers with 21 points in just 20 minutes of action, adding four rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Her backcourt mate, Mikaylah Williams, orchestrated the offense with a game-high seven assists to go along with 14 points.

The Tigers’ depth was on full display, with six players scoring in double figures. Flau’Jae Johnson filled the stat sheet with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. ZaKiyah Johnson posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Grace Knox and Kailyn Gilbert added 10 and nine points, respectively.

For Houston Christian, Grace Booth provided a bright spot, scoring a team-high 17 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Kamryn McLaurin added 10 points for the Huskies, who struggled with LSU’s pressure all night, managing an offensive rating of just 65.0 on 85 possessions.

The victory marked a successful start to the season for LSU, which entered the game as a overwhelming favorite with a 99.70 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system. The Tigers improved to 1-0 and will host Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday. Houston Christian fell to 0-1 and will look to rebound on the road at Tarleton State on Sunday.