NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt’s 9-0 run late in the game lifted the 12th-ranked Commodores to a 68-58 win over the seventh-ranked LSU women’s basketball on Thursday night in Memorial Gymnasium.
After LSU (23-6, 9-4 SEC) fought back to tie the score 33-33 at halftime, the teams traded runs in the second half and then traded points down the stretch.
The Lady Tigers led 46-41 with 13:56 left to play before Vanderbilt (24-4, 10-3 SEC) used a 10-0 run to regain the lead. The Lady Tigers followed with a 5-0 run to tie the score at 51-51 with 8:05 left. LSU was able to take a 56-55 lead with 4:14 left, but Carla Thomas scored on a lay-up to give the Commodores the lead for good in the ensuing possession.
“Coming into the game our team knew that Vanderbilt was on offensive powerhouse and it was a match against the No. 1 offense and the No. 1 defense,” LSU head coach Pokey Chatman said. “They were better in all aspects in that regard tonight.”
LSU did fight back after Vanderbilt opened the game with s 12-1 run and led by as much as 13, 18-5, with 11:50 left in the half.
Erica White sparked a LSU run the allowed the game to be tied at 33-33 at the break. The 5-3 point guard scored 10 of LSU’s last 14 points of the half, including a pair of three-point baskets. The Lady Tigers finished the half with a 14-4 run.
White finished the game with a career-high tying 22 points on 11-of-16 shooting with four three-pointers. Sylvia Fowles added 17 points and 10 rebounds to continue her double double streak to 16-straight games.
Thomas led all scorers in the game with 23 for Vanderbilt on 11-16 shooting. Dee Davis added 17 points and eight assists, while Christina Wirth and Caroline Williams each had 12 points.
LSU shot 45.8 percent from the floor and Vanderbilt hit for 54.2 percent. The Lady Tigers won the battle of the boards 25-24.
The loss puts LSU in a fourth-place tie with Ole Miss in the Southeastern Conference standings. Vanderbilt is in third-place all alone.
The Lady Tigers host Alabama on Sunday at 2 p.m. CST in the Maravich Center in the regular season finale.
GAME NOTES
– Pokey Chatman coached her 100th game as head coach tonight.
– Sylvia Fowles collected her 16th straight double double with her 17 points and 10 rebounds. Fowles now has 22 double doubles this season and 57 in her career.
– Erica White equaled her career-high with 22 points tonight, including a career-high four three-pointers.