BATON ROUGE — Led by forward Aiysha Smith’s play on both ends of the court, LSU shot 50.0 percent from the field and held the Rice Lady Owls to only 28.8 (19 of 66) to win, 72-47, in the first game of a men’s-women’s doubleheader on Thursday evening in the Maravich Assembly Center.
LSU (6-3) added 27-of-32 free throws (84.4 percent) including 14 straight in the first half, while committing only nine fouls. Rice fell to 5-3 overall and committed 19 turnovers and 21 fouls.
Forward Aiysha Smith led the Lady Tigers with 20 points including eight free throws, while Scholanda Dorrell and Doneeka Hodges had 13 points each. Roneeka Hodges added 12. In the first game since starting point guard Kisha James tore her left ACL for the second time in her career, sophomore Temeka Johnson scored nine points while dishing six assists and grabbing five rebounds.
Rice was led by LaTonya Sam who had 11 points.
After falling behind 4-0, LSU scored its first basket with 16:38 remaining in the first half and then tied the game at 4-4 on a pair of free throws. Rice responded with a bucket, but the Lady Tigers went on a 10-3 run over the next three minutes to take a 14-9 lead.
The Lady Owls cut the lead to 16-14 on a three-pointer by LaTonya Sam with 9:09 left in the half, but again LSU rolled off six straight to up the lead to 22-14.
Rice was able to whittle the LSU lead to four, 24-20, however LSU went on a 10-0 run to end the half and take a 34-20 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Lady Tigers extended the lead to 19, 45-26, with 15:00 left to play as LSU continued to make its free throws and convert in the paint while Rice’s shooting woes continued.
Leading by 14, LSU’s Roneeka and Doneeka Hodges collided on a rebound and were both forced out of the game wikth 10:45 to play. However, Doneeka returned on the next dead ball and Roneeka was able to come back soon after.
The lead increased to 21, 55-34, when Smith put back a rare missed free throw and Doneeka Hodges hit a three pointer the next time down the court.
The Hodges twins hooked up with 4:33 to play in the game to give LSU a 63-40 lead, while Rice missed six opportunites on their end before settling for a free throw.
LSU returns to action for the final time before the Christmas holidays when it takes on Prairie View A&M on Saturday, Dec. 22, at noon in the Maravich Assembly Center.