By Ryan Rogers
LSUSports.net
BATON ROUGE — Four Lady Tigers scored in double figures to lead the 12th-ranked LSU women’s basketball team to a 74-58 victory over Alabama on Thursday night in the Maravich Assembly Center.
LSU improved to 16-6 overall and 6-3 in Southeastern Conference play after bouncing back from a disappointing loss at home to Auburn in the annual Pack the PMAC game. Alabama fell to 16-7 overall and 4-6 in league play.
The leading scorer for LSU was Marie Ferdinand with 16 points. Beth Vice led all Alabama scorers with 14. She was the only Alabama player to reach double figures.
After allowing Alabama to stay within eight points at halftime, 26-18, LSU broke away to begin the second half and never looked back.
DeTrina White exploded to begin the second half, scoring a basket inside on nice move in the post. On Alabama’s next possession she rejected Lanish Cartwell’s shot and force a turnover on the in-bound-pass. Then in transition, April Brown found White open inside and she scored her second basket in a row. LSU led 30-20 with 18:24 remaining in the game.
Doneeka Hodges and Kisha James each hit three pointers for LSU and the Lady Tigers opened up the game leading 40-24 with 15:43 remaining in the second half.
Hodges hit her career-high third three pointer and LSU led 43-29 with 14:38 left in the second half.
Roneeka Hodges stripped the ball away from Manisha Redus and dished it off to Doneeka Hodges. Doneeka Hodges then sent the ball up the court to Angelia Crockett. Crockett was fouled and hit two free throws. LSU led 61-38 with 7:41 remaining in the game.
Ferdinand showed off her skills with a reverse lay up inside and LSU led 67-44 with 5:20 remaining in the game.
Ke-Ke Tardy got the ball inside off a pass by Kisha James and scored a basket with a foul. She converted the three-point-play and the Lady Tigers put away Alabama for good. LSU led 71-50 with 1:59 left in the game.
In the first half, LSU opened up the game on a 13-4 run. Baskets by Ferdinand and a three-pointer by Doneeka Hodges highlighted the run. After Ferdinand hit two free throws LSU led 15-6 with 11:46 left in the first half.
Crockett sent a laser inside to White who smoothly turned around and scored the basket, giving LSU a 17-6 advantage with 9:35 remaining in the first half.
Vice missed a three-pointer, but Sparkle Smith rebounded and scored the basket. Moments later, Joni Crenshaw drained a three pointer and LSU’s lead was cut to 22-18 with 1:05 left in the first half.
Just before halftime Doneeka Hodges stole the ball away from Shondra Johnson and went down the court for a basket. LSU led 26-18 at halftime.
LSU returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 11, when it travels to face Arkansas.