by Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
BATON ROUGE — Kisha James missed a 25-foot three-pointer as time expired as the Auburn Lady Tigers upset the 10th-ranked LSU Lady Tigers, 65-62, on Sunday in front of Louisiana women’s athletics record 9,636 fans at the fifth annual Pack the PMAC game.
LSU fell to 15-6 overall and 5-3 in Southeastern Conference play, while Auburn improved to 15-9 and 3-7 in the SEC.
Auburn made six three pointers and shot 41.2 percent from the floor (21-of-51), while LSU also made 21-of-51 shots but only four three pointers.
With 1:24 remaining in the game, April Brown scored basket inside off a dish from Angelia Crockett and the Auburn lead was 62-60. Auburn’s LaRita Spencer then scored her first two points of the game with two free throws to give Auburn a 64-60 lead with 27 seconds left in the game.
LSU’s Kisha James hit two free throws followed by a free throw for Auburn by Nero and Auburn led 65-62 with 15.8 seconds left in the game. After Marie Ferdinand turned the ball over in the lane, Auburn’s Carol Smith missed two free throws that would have iced the game.
James’s desperation three pointer with seconds left just missed and Auburn escaped with the victory.
Auburn outrebounded LSU, 36-30, including 18 offensive rebounds. Despite the loss, Ferdinand gave another stellar effort leading all scorers with 22 points. Brown was second in scoring for the Lady Tigers with 15 points.
Leading scorers for Auburn were Nero, a Baton Rouge native and product of St. Joseph’s Academy, with 20 points and Askew with 14.
With only 4:14 remaining, Auburn opened up a six-point lead, 57-51, when Askew found Shera Looney wide open under the goal for an easy lay-in.
Marie Ferdinand hit a jump shot to cut the lead to four points at 57-53. Two free throws by Lori Nero and Auburn again led by six at 59-53 with 3:07 left in the game.
Auburn opened the lead up to seven points with a free throw by Nero and led 62-55. Moments later Roneeka Hodges drained a clutch three pointer to cut Auburn lead back down to 62-58 with 2:11 remaining in the game.
In the first half, Ke-Ke Tardy scored a tough basket inside and the Lady Tigers tied the game, 10-10, with 12:46 left. On the Lady Tigers next possession Ferdinand converted a three-point play and LSU led 13-10 with 11:36 left in the first half.
The Lady Tigers were precise in executing their offensive attack. The Lady Tigers used quick cuts and sharp passing to allow penetration and find open shots.
Auburn reclaimed the lead with baskets by Shana Askew and free throws by Brandi Hillman. Askew hit a three pointer and Auburn led 21-17 with 7:42 remaining in the first half.
James answered Auburn with a three pointer to cut the lead to one, but back-to-back three pointers by Askew and Carol Smith and Auburn led 27-22 with 3:59 remaining in the half.
April Brown tied the game at 27-27 with a huge three pointer with 2:22 remaining in the first half. Two late free throws by Ferdinand and LSU led 29-27 at halftime.
LSU returns to action at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, when Alabama comes to the Maravich Assembly Center.