KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — LSU’s top-seeded Lady Tigers basketball team defeated 16-seeded Stetson, 70-36, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday afternoon.
LSU (30-2), the second ranked team in the nation, used a solid defensive performance to get past Stetson (17-14).
“Coming in we had some specific goals as it related to Stetson, but even more so as it related to us,” LSU head coach Pokey Chatman said. “We wanted to wreak havoc on the defensive end, and I thought we did a good job.”
LSU’s defense held Stetson to 24.1 percent shooting from the floor which is an NCAA Tournament record for lowest shooting percentage in a game. The Lady Tigers also totaled five blocks, 11 steals and forced 17 turnovers, converting them into 18 points.
Stetson was held to just 19 points in the first half and managed only 17 in the second half, going scoreless for over an eight minute stretch in the final 20 minutes. LSU led 41-19 at the break.
Temeka Johnson led LSU, who advanced to the second round of the tournament for the eighth straight time, with 15 points and six assists, shooting 5-9 from the field and a perfect 5-5 from the free-throw line. Seimone Augustus finished with 14 points with eight coming from the free throw line.
Sylvia Fowles added nine points and nine rebounds and helped to contain Stetson’s center Kristy Brown who was the MVP of the Sun Conference Tournament. Brown finished the game with 17 points and eight rebounds.
LSU’s Scholanda Hoston and Florence Williams each had eight points in the victory.
The Lady Tiger reserves began entering the game during the middle of the second half and finished out the game, getting some quality playing time and experience. LSU scored 30 bench points and held Stetson’s bench scoreless.
Although LSU only shot 38.1 percent from the field, they got to the free throw line and connected on 20 of 26 attempts.
Stetson’s Nefertiti Walker added 13 points shooting 5-17 from the field. Only two other Hatters scored in the game.
LSU, who recorded the school’s third-30 win season with the victory, will play the second round game against ninth-seeded Arizona on Tuesday at a tine to be determined. Arizona defeated eighth-seeded Oklahoma, 72-69 in the first round.
GAME NOTES
- First-seeded LSU improves to 30-2 on the season. This marks only the second time the Lady Tigers have won at least 30 games in a season, the first being in 2002-03 (30-4).
- LSU has compiled a 20-14 record in their 15 trips to the NCAA tournament, including the past seven in a row (1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005).
- This marks the second time the Lady Tigers have received a #1 seed, the first being 2003.
- LSU won its opening-round game in the NCAA tournament for the eighth straight year.
- LSU set two school records for NCAA play in today’s game. Stetson’s 36 points is the fewest an opponent has scored against the Lady Tigers in the Big Dance. The previous mark was 45 points by Stephen F. Austin on Mar. 19, 2000. Also, Stetson’s 24.1 percent field-goal percentage is the lowest shooting percentage by an opponent, the previous being 30.9 percent by Liberty on Mar. 17, 2000.
- LSU’s winning margin of 46 points ties its season record. The Lady Tigers defeated Arkansas 91-45 on Jan. 20.
- Today’s win is LSU’s first in Thompson-Boling Arena in 19 trips. That record includes 16 losses to Tennessee, a loss to Auburn in the 1980 Southeastern Conference tournament, and a loss to Georgia in 1983 in the SEC tournament.
Head Coach Pokey Chatman
(opening statement)
“Coming in, we had some specific goals as it related to Stetson, but even more so as it related to us. We wanted to wreak havoc on the defensive end, and I thought we did a good job. One of our managers told me that each kid had at least one deflection.”
“Our ability to block out and rebound helps our transition game.”
“We did a great job of taking care of the ball. We only had four turnovers in the first half, and two of those were three-second calls. I’m pleased going into the next game.”
(on LSU getting its first win ever in Knoxville)
“I hadn’t thought about it. I don’t feel like I’m in Knoxville. I feel like I’m in the NCAA Tournament. The fans are very supportive. I’ll take a win.”
(on LSU’s offensive performance)
“I’m always OK with good looks at the basket. The shots may not fall. We’ll hang our hats on defense. We got good looks within the confines of our offense.”
(on the performance of LSU substitutes)
“As a coach, I don’t think you’re ever satisfied. I was pleased with the direction these players were taking. They’re running against (our first teamers) in practice. My expectations are high. It’s not about being the No. 6 — No. 10 player on the floor.”
(on what she told Seimone Augustus about her shots not dropping)
“I don’t tell her anything. She had 10 free throws. She was aggressive to the basket. I liked her mentality. We shot 26 free throws, and when your leading scorer gets 10 free throws, that’s a positive. She didn’t press. She got great looks. I’ll take that anytime.”
(on the performance of Florence Williams)
“Florence has been our most consistent player the last six weeks. She does multiple things well. I’ve just come to expect that from her. She made one mistake, and I lost my head. I say that as a backhanded compliment to Flo. She does so many things for you.”
(on being pushed in a game with a large margin of victory)
“I thought we were pushed. We believe that we have strength in our numbers. That’s a positive, because you don’t know what might happen the next time out. We were pushed.”
(on her own shooting performance)
“My offense wasn’t that bad. Hopefully, I got that out of the way and it won’t continue. Our goal was to pick up our defense. We didn’t want them to get the ball down the floor. Our defense set the tone fur us today.”
(on how the team maintains focus in spite of winning by a large margin)
“It’s about goals. We didn’t focus on the score. Our ultimate goal is to win a national championship. We want to finish games regardless of the score.”
(on how the team would celebrate this victory)
“There will be no celebration. We want to focus on our next opponent. We have to keep our focus.”
(on looking ahead to Arizona)
“We know about Shawntinice Polk and their other post players. It was good for Crystal White and Sylvia Fowles to go through what they did today. That will give them confidence.”
(on LSU’s defensive performance)
“We didn’t want to give them time to run the clock down. Coach (Pokey Chatman) told us to pick them up three-fourths of the way. She told me to be smart, but don’t pick up a foul.”
(on having interaction with the LSU mascot)
“You’re trying to get me in trouble. I was paying attention to the game. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
(on LSU’s ability to play substitutes)
“It was a good thing. It gave our teammates an opportunity to get experience. We know in the tournament, anything can happen, and this (substitutes gaining experience) will help us. It was good for us overall.”
(on overall performance)
“I thought we did a good job executing. There’s always room for improvement. There are things that we need to work on. Improvement will come during practice time.”