BATON ROUGE — Kim Mulkey trotted out a third different starting lineup in LSU women's basketball 's first five games of this season Monday night.
Against Troy, senior forward Amani Bartlett garnered her first career start against Troy, starting in place of junior Sa'Myah Smith, who had started the first four games this year.
"A decision on things that happened in practice on focusing and paying attention," Mulkey told reporters after LSU's lopsided 98-59 victory over the Trojans inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Injuries have been the main culprit for the changes in LSU's lineup in the first couple of weeks of the season with Shayeann Day-Wilson missing a game due to a shoulder issue.
LSU TROUNCES TROY LSU women's basketball, Flau'jae Johnson start fast and trounce Troy to start season 5-0
LSU-MURRAY STATE What channel is LSU women's basketball vs Murray State on today? Time, TV, streaming info
Bartlett managed two rebounds and didn't score in eight minutes. While she came off the bench, Smith was effective in the 17 minutes she played, nearly recording a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.
Mulkey said she thought Smith, who is just in her fifth game back from knee surgery, handled the situation well. But there are plenty of things to work on.
"We still got to work with Sa'Myah with her hands. She's got to grip that ball. She rebounded the ball pretty good," Mulkey said. "Her field goal percentage is good. I want her to more offensive rebounds. Make yourself hard to block out. You're not going to win a battle down there physically, you don't have that kind of body.
"Keep in mind that this is another kid that's been away from the game. She had knee surgery December a year ago. Just keep plugging away and get as much production out of as many post players that you have. A little bit here one night, a little bit here the next night. Just keep growing."
NICK SABAN VISITS LSU WBB TEAM Kim Mulkey 'in heaven' meeting Saban spoke to LSU women's basketball before NSU game
LSU WBB 2025 SIGNING CLASS LSU women's basketball signee tracker: See who Kim Mulkey signs in 2025 recruiting class
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU coach Kim Mulkey on not starting Sa'Myah Smith vs. Troy
