KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Thursday night LSU’s ninth-ranked women’s basketball team clinched at least a top four seed at the Southeastern Conference tournament with its win over Vanderbilt. On Sunday, the Lady Tigers could go along way towards securing a top three seed at next month’s NCAA Tournament as LSU travels to face second-ranked Tennessee at 2 p.m. CT at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The game will be broadcast by the LSU Sports Network and can be heard in the Baton Rouge area on 107.3 FM as well as the internet at www.LSUsports.net.
LSU enters the contest with a 20-4 overall mark and a 9-2 SEC record. The Lady Tigers have a 5-1 SEC road record this year, which includes an 80-74 win over then-No. 2 Georgia back in December. LSU has won eight of its last nine SEC games. LSU is ranked No. 9 in the nation in both polls, but the Lady Tigers are listed as high as No. 6 in the nation in one RPI rating.
LSU’s nine SEC wins leave the Lady Tigers one shy of tying the school-record of 10 set by last year’s team. LSU has also won 20 games for the fourth time in the last five years. LSU is 4-3 against teams ranked in the top 25 this year.
Tennessee is one of the hottest teams in the nation as the Lady Vols have won nine straight, including a road win over top-ranked Connecticut, to run its record to 22-3 overall and
10-1 in league play. Tennessee is currently tied for Georgia for first place in the SEC, while the Lady Tigers are a game back.
The contest will mark the second between the two this year as the Lady Vols handed LSU is worst loss of the season back in January in Baton Rouge with their 86-50 win. LSU has never won in Knoxville as the Lady Tigers will carry an 0-12 all-time mark in games played at Tennessee into the game.
“At this point in the season, every game is big,” LSU coach Sue Gunter said. “We have three games left and we need to win two of the three. Obviously a win over Tennessee would help our NCAA seeding by leaps and bounds.
“We’re not putting any pressure on ourselves going into this game though. Tennessee has an
outstanding team and they are very tough to beat at home. They really popped us one in Baton Rouge back in January so I think our kids are looking forward to the rematch.”
In the first meeting between the teams, Tennessee held the Lady Tigers to a season-low 36.8 percent shooting while forcing LSU into 25 turnovers. LSU senior forward Katrina Hibbert scored a season-low six points in the game. Tennessee led 37-27 at halftime and then blew the game open over the final 10 minutes of the contest.
“I think Tennessee came into that game really pumped up because we had beaten them twice in a row in Baton Rouge,” Gunter said. “I think we may have played a little intimidated in that game.”
LSU enters the Tennessee game as one of the most efficient offensive teams in the SEC. The Lady Tigers lead the league and rank second in the nation in field goal percentage at 50.4 percent. LSU is also tops in the SEC in assists (20.7 per game) and its 15.6 turnovers a contest lead the conference.
Leading the way for the Lady Tigers will be SEC Player of the Year candidate in 5-9 junior guard Marie Ferdinand and 5-11 forward Hibbert. Ferdinand ranks second in the SEC in scoring at 18.0 points a game and she tops in the league in steals (2.7 per game) and third in assists (5.5 per game). Hibbert, who is just six points away from becoming only the sixth player in LSU history to score 1,600 points in a career, is averaging 14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 5.3 assists a game.
Rounding out the LSU starting lineup will be 5-11 junior guard Angelia Crockett (4.1 points, 4.4 assists), 5-11 junior forward April Brown (10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds) and 5-11 sophomore center DeTrina White (12.0 points, 9.1 rebounds). White leads the SEC in rebounds, field goal percentage (61.8 pct.) and double-doubles (9).
Tennessee will counter with a lineup that is led by 6-5 sophomore center Michelle Snow (12.4 points, 6.7 rebounds) and 6-1 junior forward Tamika Catchings (15.2 points, 7.7 rebounds). Snow scored 22 points against LSU earlier this year.
Rounding out the Lady Vol lineup will be 5-10 junior guard Semeka Randall (14.0 points, 5.1 rebounds), 5-11 junior guard Kristen Clement (6.4 points, 2.8 rebounds), and 5-9 freshman forward Kara Lawson (14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds).
After Sunday, the Lady Tigers close out their regular-season with home games against Florida (Feb. 24) and South Carolina (Feb. 27).