NEW ORLEANS — Sylvia Fowles scored all 18 of her points in the second half, as the No. 6 LSU women’s basketball team defeated Louisiana Tech in the inaugural Katrina Relief Basketball Classic, 61-44, on Saturday at the New Orleans Arena.
LSU (13-1) overcame a slow start and its first halftime deficit of the season to win the charity event that benefits LSU Operation Rebound’s two charities: Habitat for Humanity and Friends of NORD.
Louisiana Tech (5-8) saw its slim halftime lead, 20-19, disappear immediately after the break. Tech had won three -straight entering the contest.
Fowles, who wasn’t able to attempt a shot and only played seven minutes in the first half, was 8-of-11 in the second half. The 6-6 center played all 20 minutes and grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.
LSU forward Ashley Thomas and guard Quianna Chaney each added 11 to keep the Lady Tigers close early.
The Lady Techsters were led by forward Ty Moore who had 14 points and nine rebounds. Tamika Kursh added eight, while Amber Metoyer had a game-high 11 rebounds.
Though both teams struggled in the first half from the field — neither managing better than 30 percent — LSU made 19-of-37 second-half shots (51.4 percent). Louisiana Tech only made 15 field goals (15-53, 28.3 percent), but made 14-of-17 free throws to avoid a blowout.
LSU outscored Louisiana Tech, 38-12, in the paint and added 15 points off 17 Tech turnovers.
In a slow-paced first half, the Lady Tigers opened a 7-0 lead in the first four mintues, as Thomas had five including a three-pointer.
Louisiana Tech answered with an 11-2 run to lead 11-9 on a jumper by Sierra Nixon with 9:35 left in the half.
After five ties in the final nine minutes, Tech’s Shan Moore hit 1-of-2 free throws with 1:28 left to give her team a slim advantage going into the break.
LSU trailed for the first time this season at the half, 20-19, as Fowles was held without a shot in seven minutes of play after picking up two early fouls.
Once Fowles was able to get involved on both ends of the court, the intensity that was missing in the first half came out.
LSU opened the half with a 7-2 run and didn’t trail again. Another run of 12-2 gave the Lady Tigers a 38-26 lead with 10:13 to play. Louisiana Tech would get no closer than 10.
The final score was the largest margin of the game.
The Lady Tigers return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 6 p.m. CT when they travel to face South Florida in Tampa.
LSU HEAD COACH POKEY CHATMAN
Opening Statement…
“I will start with the fact that we should be fortunate that our defense has been good to us most of the year. I think that is the thing that carried us into the half. We were able to hold Louisiana Tech to 20 points in the first half. The unfortunate part was that we had only scored 19. Sylvia (Fowles) and Erica (White) spent a considerable amount of time on the bench. That was not necessarily a bad thing. We knew we could gain some momentum coming out in the second half. I thought all the difference in the world was having those two players on the floor. It gave the game a little bit more rhythm, especially in transition offense. Fortunately, we came out with the victory.”
On the dominance of Sylvia Fowles in the second half…
“She was zero points and one rebound at the half. She is a difficult player to defend. That is what we need from her in both halves. That is difficult to get when she is on the bench. It is a compliment to her skill. She is not just 6’5”. She is 6’5” and she’s fast and quick and explosive. She can use her right hand and her left hand. She is learning how to play the game. That is why we need her on the floor. It is a credit to her ability and how much she has learned the game. She started playing late in terms of basketball players. She still has a lot to learn, but her attitude is good and she will continue to improve.”
On the second half…
“I really was not looking for a silver lining. I was look for the fact that we had missed so many shots in the first half how come we have not retrieved more offensive boards. That is an effort thing not an execution thing. That is probably why I was a little bit more vocal. I think a lot of coaches can live with a missed shot if they are good shots. I didn’t think we took a lot of bad shots. At some point those shots become a test of your character. Those are things I addressed at the half. I addressed how unintelligent those fouls were that Sylvia (Fowles) picked. She didn’t foul a jump shooter, she fouled a jump shot.”
LOUISIANA TECH HEAD COACH CHRIS LONG QUOTES
Opening statement…
“Our team battled and I knew they would. We did a great job in the first half, but the difference in this game was one player ? Sylvia Fowles. We had no answer for her. LSU is a good defensive team and when she is in the game they become a great defensive team. Going into halftime with a one-point lead on the No. 6 team in the country, I am proud of that. It was disappointing that we couldn’t pull away a little bit more when Fowles was out of the game. I just told our kids, that we were a couple of shots away from this game going down to the wire. Fowles is just incredible and there is nothing that we could do.”