FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — LSU’s seventh-ranked women’s basketball team used a 24-0 run in the second half to pull away from Arkansas in an 86-65 win on Thursday night in Bud Walton Arena.
With the score tied 49-49 with 10:30 left in the game, the Lady Tigers (23-4, 9-2 SEC) shut down Arkansas (18-9, 3-8 SEC) for the next five minutes and went on a 24-0 run to take a 73-49 lead, the largest of the game.
“I told the kids after the game that I need that effort early and often,” LSU head coach Pokey Chatman said. “We let our defensive energy carry over into the offensive transition and we had several people step up and hit their shots.”
Sylvia Fowles sparked LSU with her second 20-20 game of the season with 23 points and 20 rebounds. 15 of her points came in the second half, including six during the run.
Quianna Chaney added 21 points in the victory, including 10 in the run the broke the game open. Erica White posted 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the game.
LSU led 32-28 at halftime after Arkansas led 17-12 with 11:24 left in the first half. The Lady Tigers took the lead on a three-pointer by Chaney with 3:35 left in the half and closed out the first 20 minutes on a 7-3 run.
The Lady Tigers then opened the second half on an 8-2 run to take a 40-30 lead, but Arkansas chipped away to tie the score at 44-44 with 11:50 left in the game.
The loss for Arkansas was its sixth in a row.
Donica Cosby led the Lady Razorbacks with 15 points, while Lauren Ervin had 11 and Sarah Pfeifer added 10. Ervin led the way with nine rebounds for Arkansas, who was out rebounded 54-36 by LSU.
The Lady Tigers shot 45.5 percent from the floor in the game, including 53.7 percent in the second half. LSU also hit 14 of 15 from the free throw line.
Arkansas shot just 34.8 percent from the floor in the game.
LSU returns home to host No. 3 Tennessee on Monday at 6 p.m. CST in the Maravich Center. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
GAME NOTES
– Porsha Phillips started for the first time in her career tonight.
– Sylvia Fowles recorded a double double for the 14th straight game with her 23 points and 20 rebounds tonight. The double double is her 20th of the season and 55th on her career.
– Fowles’ 20-20 game is the third of her career and second of the season.
– Quianna Chaney reached 20 points for the third time of her career and third time this season with her 21 points tonight.
– LSU reached 80 points for the fifth time this season and the 86 points are the third most of the season.
– LSU’s 54 rebounds are the most this season.