LUBBOCK, Texas — LSU’s third-ranked Lady Tigers basketball team overcame a three-point halftime deficit to defeat No. 13 Texas Tech, 76-68, in the State Farm Tip-off Classic on Sunday afternoon in the United Spirit Arena.
LSU (1-0) trailed 35-32 at the break, but took the lead 46-43 with 13:50 left to play on a Scholanda Hoston three-pointer from the left side. LSU then built a 10-point lead before Texas Tech (0-1) chipped away to tie the score 58-58 with six minutes left before the Lady Tigers hit seven of eight free throws in the final minute and a half to hold on for the victory.
“It was a great game against a great opponents in a hostile environment,” LSU head coach Pokey Chatman said. “These kids hung in there when it counted and the result was a victory.”
Seimone Augustus led the way with 32 points, including 21 in the second half, and 13 rebounds. Sylvia Fowles, in her first career start, added 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Hoston added 10 points.
RaShonta LeBlanc, starting her first game at point guard for the Lady Tigers, dished out eight assists with no turnovers, added five points and five rebounds. Three of her five points came on a crucial three-pointer with 1:55 left that gave LSU the lead for good.
LSU outrebounded Texas Tech 51-37 and shot 40.6 percent from the floor. The Lady Raiders connected on 40.0 percent from the floor, including just four of 19 from three-point range.
LaToya Davis led Texas Tech with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Alesha Robinson added 17 points and eight rebounds and Erin Grant had 10 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
Texas Tech (0-1) suffered only its ninth loss (88-9) in six seasons at United Spirit Arena.
LSU will return home will host Southern on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. CST in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
GAME NOTES
- C Sylvia Fowles, PG RaShonta LeBlanc and F Florence Williams each started for the first time in their careers.
- C Sylvia Fowles recorded her 100th blocked shot of her career midway through the first half. With that block she moved into third-place on LSU’s career blocked shots list.
- Freshman Kristen Morris scored her first collegiate points with 7:42 left in the first half on a lay-up.
- G Seimone Augustus reached double figures in scoring for the 63rd consecutive game.
- C Sylvia Fowles collected her 13th double double of her career with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
- G Seimone Augustus collected her 6th double double of her career with 32 points and 13 rebounds.