NEW ORLEANS — Sylvia Fowles‘ record-breaking performance and a second half surge lifted the 10th-ranked LSU women’s basketball team to a 59-39 victory over Tulane on Sunday evening in Fogleman Arena.
Fowles, a 6-6 junior center, scored a game-high 21 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots to lead the Lady Tigers (5-0) and her second block of the game lifted the Miami, Fla., native to the career record at LSU with 179 blocks.
LSU’s second half surge came after leading 23-22 at the break. The Lady Tigers and Green Wave (2-1) traded baskets early in the second half before LSU used a 15-0 run that began with the score tied 31-31 with 14:37 left to play. Tulane did not score for just over seven minutes and LSU built a 46-31 lead.
“Our focus was unacceptable in the first half,” LSU head coach Pokey Chatman said. “I am not taking anything away from Tulane, but we were not able to make adjustments because we were not locked in. Thank goodness we played decent defense.”
LSU trailed 8-2 at the 14:04 mark of the first half after hitting just one of the first five shots of the game, but the Lady Tigers managed an 8-0 run to take a 10-8 lead. The teams then went back and forth in the final eight minutes of the half.
Fowles performance was her third double double of the season and 38th of her career. The blocked shots record that now belongs to her was held by Julie Gross since 1980.
Quianna Chaney added eight points and a career-high seven assists in the victory for LSU, while Allison Hightower had nine points and four rebounds.
Ashley Langford led Tulane with 10 points.
LSU held Tulane to 21.7 percent from the floor in the game, including 15.2 percent in the second half. The Lady Tigers shot 44.4 percent in the game and 53.8 in the second half.
The Lady Tigers continue its road swing in Waco, Texas, on Tuesday at 7 p.m. CST against No. 16 Baylor.
GAME NOTES
– Sylvia Fowles recorded her second blocked shot of the game with 10:10 left in the second half, giving the junior center the record for career blocked shots with 179. She surpasses Julie Gross (178 blocks).
– Sylvia Fowles recorded her 38th double double of her career and the third of the season with 21 points and 14 rebounds against Tulane.
– Quianna Chaney dished out a career-high seven assists.
– LSU has now started 5-0 for the third straight season.
– The Lady Tigers improved to 25-3 against Tulane, including 11-2 in games played in New Orleans.