On Valentine’s Day in Baton Rouge, the No. 6 LSU Tigers came up just short in a hard-fought battle with No. 3 South Carolina, falling 79-72 in front of an electric Pete Maravich Assembly Center crowd. The defeat marked the Tigers’ 18th consecutive loss to the Gamecocks in the series, extending South Carolina’s dominance over LSU.
For former Gamecock MiLaysia Fulwiley, who transferred to LSU this season after two productive years with South Carolina, the contest carried both personal weight and narrative intrigue. While Fulwiley fought through the emotional and sporting undertones of facing her old team, her comments postgame focused more on team effort and growth rather than dwelling on her own performance.
Tough Night at the Office — and a Team-First Mindset
Fulwiley had a challenging statistical night, finishing 1-for-8 from the field and contributing six points along with four rebounds, three assists and playing active defense. Despite her limited scoring, she made her presence felt in other areas — and her response after the game reflected a grounded perspective.
According to LSU coach Kim Mulkey, Fulwiley showed the kind of emotional and competitive investment that comes when a player cares deeply about her program: “I hope she has butterflies, because if she has butterflies, it means she’s invested in this program, and she’s excited.” Mulkey noted that Fulwiley’s natural quickness and energy were clear in spurts, with moments of “outstanding plays” balanced by turnovers — normal growing pains in a competitive matchup.
While Fulwiley herself didn’t dominate the narrative in postgame quotes, Mulkey’s remarks about her performance give insight into how Fulwiley felt and reacted emotionally to the game:
- Excitement and investment: Mulkey hoped Fulwiley had “butterflies,” a sign the young guard cared intensely about competing and contributing.
- Burst of impact: Mulkey pointed out that Fulwiley “stripped Raven Johnson early in the game, got some layups”— moments that show her drive against her former team, even if they didn’t entirely translate into a win.
- Room for growth: Mulkey also acknowledged the turnovers and inconsistencies, underscoring areas where Fulwiley can get better — especially in making more “B-pluses” than “minuses” when she’s on the floor.
Putting the Game in Perspective
Despite Fulwiley’s struggles from the field — shooting just 1-for-8 — the Tigers’ performance had its bright spots, including rebounding advantage (LSU controlled the glass 46-37) and solid bench scoring, showing that the team as a whole competed well.
Postgame, coach Mulkey’s comments didn’t single out Fulwiley in a negative way; instead, she framed the result as part of a larger learning process as LSU heads toward March and the postseason. “It’s our job as coaches when we get back on that practice floor, to make sure we get them back in the right mindset,” Mulkey said, highlighting team growth over individual moments.
What This Means for Fulwiley Going Forward
Although Fulwiley didn’t issue a direct quoted interview after the LSU loss, Mulkey’s post-game assessment paints a clear picture of how Fulwiley approached the game emotionally and competitively:
- She cared about the matchup, showing excitement and engagement in one of the season’s biggest games.
- She made impactful plays, even if not consistently throughout the game.
- Her development remains a focus — both in making positive contributions and minimizing turnovers as she continues to grow into a more consistent threat at LSU.
In short, Fulwiley’s post-loss reaction showed a young player still building her identity in a new role, balancing competitiveness with growth — and making it clear that while this particular night didn’t go her way, her focus remains on improving and contributing for her team as the season heads into its final stretch.
