TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For the first time in school history four players scored at least 20 points to lead the 14th-ranked LSU Lady Tigers basketball team to a 103-68 victory at Alabama in Southeastern Conference action on Thursday night in Coleman Coliseum.
It was also the first time LSU (18-3, 6-1 SEC) scored over 100 points on the road in a SEC game since a 102-41 win at Mississippi State on Jan. 28, 1985. The victory also snapped a nine-game losing skid for LSU at Alabama (10-11, 2-6 SEC) which dated back to Feb. 8, 1986.
“It is always tough to win on the road in the SEC,” LSU associate coach Pokey Chatman said. “The biggest thing is to get the monkey off our back.”
Scholanda Hoston and Doneeka Hodges led the Lady Tigers with 25 points each, while Seimone Augustus added 21 and Temeka Johnson poured in 20 to go with 11 assists for her fifth double-double of the season. Hoston’s 25 marked a career for the sophomore guard.
LSU jumped out to an early 8-2 lead in the game and led 17-7 before Alabama used a run of their own to climb as close as 22-21 before the Lady Tigers pulled away for good with a 15-0 run and took a 44-28 lead into the locker room.
After a solid first half that included 55.9 percent shooting from the floor and just one turnover, LSU figured that could not do much better, but the Lady Tigers came out and scored 59 second-half points, shooting 74.2 percent (23-31) from the floor and went on to the historic victory.
“We executed well on both ends of the floor,” Chatman added. “We limited Alabama’s 3-point looks and stayed within our game.”
Alabama did not make a three-pointer in the first half and shot 42.9 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. The Crimson Tide finished the game hitting 43.4 percent from the field and hit five three-pointers.
Natasha Gamble led Alabama with 21 points, while Monique Bivins added 15.
LSU, which moved to a half-game behind front-running Tennessee in the SEC standings, will visit Auburn at 2 p.m. CST on Sunday.