CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — LSU’s top-seeded Lady Tigers advanced to the Elite Eight defeating the 13-seeded Liberty Lady Flames 90-48 Saturday afternoon in the McKenzie Arena.
For the third straight game, the Lady Tigers (32-2) scored at least 70 points as they continue their dominance in the NCAA tournament. LSU also continued their pattern of scoring quickly and often in the first minutes and establishing early leads.
LSU started the game with 17-0 run that lasted until Liberty (26-7) hit two free throws to put them on the board midway through the first half. LSU would continue to dominate the first half and go into the locker room with a 30 point lead, 46-16.
“This was our most complete game because of what we brought from the previous games,” LSU head coach Pokey Chatman said. The Lady Tigers defeated Stetson and Arizona by an average of 33.5 points in the first two rounds of the tournament.
The shots continued to fall for the Lady Tigers in the second half and their defense stayed strong as well. As a team, LSU shot 58.7 percent from the floor and held Liberty to only 33.3 percent shooting for the game.
Seimone Augustus and Scholanda Hoston led all scorers with 22 points each. Augustus scored 18 of her 22 in the first half and found her shooting touch, making 10 of 12 from the floor. Hoston shot eight of 13 from the field and hit three from behind the arch.
Temeka Johnson recorded her second straight double-double, scoring 12 points and dishing out a regional record 15 assists. Johnson was five of eight from the field and two of two from three-point range.
Defensively, LSU managed to contain Liberty center Katie Feenstra who scored nine points in the game. Feenstra did pull down 12 rebounds and had four blocks. Diana Staugaitiene led Liberty with ten points.
Turnovers made the difference in the game as LSU only lost the ball seven times which Liberty converted into five points. Conversely, the Lady Tigers were able to score 27 points off of the 22 turnovers committed by the Lady Flames.
The Lady Tigers advance to play the winner of second-seeded Duke and sixth-seeded Georgia. LSU and the winner will play Monday in the Elite Eight at a time to be determined for the right to move on to the Final Four.
GAME NOTES
- LSU advances to the fifth Elite Eight in school history and third in the last three years.
- Seimone Augustus reached double figures in points for the 60th straight time.
- LSU’s 30-point lead at the half is the largest halftime lead this season for the Lady Tigers.
- Seimone Augustus moved up to fourth-place on LSU’s career scoring list.
- Temeka Johnson moved up to sixth-place on the NCAA career assists list.
- Temeka Johnson collected her fifth double double of the season and the 19th of her career.
- LSU has not trailed in the NCAA Tournament since the 15:41 mark (8-6) of the first half in the first round game against Stetson.