Flau'jae Johnson's mom Kia calls Kailyn Gilbert a "blessing" for helping LSU defeat Tennessee 

In a hard-fought SEC matchup on Thursday, No. 6-ranked LSU secured a thrilling 89-87 victory over No. 16-ranked Tennessee, and one player who stood out as a game-changer was Kailyn Gilbert. The LSU guard played a pivotal role in the Tigers' victory, scoring the winning bucket. Gibert's performance earned high praise from Kia Brooks, the mother of her teammate Flau'jae Johnson.

Brooks took to social media on Friday to praise Gilbert and share her gratitude for her contributions to the team. After the game, Brooks posted an image on her Instagram story, where Gilbert was being interviewed with a towel around her neck.

"One of LSU biggest blessings this season!!" Brooks wrote.

Kia Brooks praises Kailyn Gilbert after impressive performance for LSU Tigers (image credit: instagram/kiajbrooks)

The game against Tennessee was a statement win for LSU, with Gilbert playing a crucial role in both scoring and defensive efforts. She recorded 22 points, on 9 of 17 shooting, along with five rebounds and two steals. Johnson put up 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals to complement Gilbert’s performance.

Brooks' heartfelt caption highlighted the significance of Gilbert's presence on the roster this season. Gilbert is averaging 11.9 points, on 49.7% shooting, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

Kim Mulkey reacts to Kailyn Gilbert’s game-winner against Tennessee Lady Vols

With the score tied at 87 and just 21 seconds left on the clock, Kailyn Gilbert delivered at the buzzer. After receiving the inbounds pass, the junior guard dribbled at the top of the key, keeping her eyes on the clock.

With three seconds remaining, she made her move, blowing past her defender with a quick step. Navigating through a crowd of defenders, Gilbert released an acrobatic layup that found its way through the hoop as time expired.

LSU faced a pivotal moment in Knoxville against the Tennessee Lady Vols. For Tigers coach Kim Mulkey, the decision on who should take the final shot was an easy one.

“We wanted Kailyn Gilbert to have that last shot,” Mulkey said during the postgame presser.

It was not Gilbert’s first game-winning moment of the season. She had previously sealed a victory with a buzzer-beating layup against Washington on Nov. 25.

“She’s made several of those shots during our games,” Mulkey said. “She made one like that against Washington to win it for us. You can’t call those lucky shots, she makes those acrobatic shots.”

Gilbert’s impact extended beyond the final play. Mulkey employed a smaller lineup, often running four guards on the floor and Gilbert thrived in that strategy. Her performance was complemented by standout efforts from Aneesah Morrow, who posted 23 points and 21 rebounds.

Gilbert's ability to deliver in crucial moments, combined with the talent of LSU’s players, has helped the Tigers remain undefeated through 18 games this season. LSU’s victory over Tennessee showcased not only Gilbert’s clutch performance but also the depth and resilience of a team aiming for greatness.