COLUMBIA, S.C. — LSU’s seventh-ranked women’s basketball team held off South Carolina to win 49-46 on Sunday afternoon in a Southeastern Conference battle in the Colonial Center.
South Carolina (13-11, 3-6 SEC) missed two three-pointers inside of 13 seconds that would have tied the game. Lauren Simms three from the top of the key with 13 seconds left hit the rim and bounded out and Melanie Johnson’s attempt for the right corner hit the top of the backboard as time expired.
LSU (21-3, 7-2 SEC) built the three point lead after LSU’s Erica White connected on a pair of free throws with 23 seconds to play to make the score 49-46.
“The word that comes to mind is lucky,” LSU head coach Pokey Chatman said. “We did not display any type of discipline that was necessary on both ends of the floor. We were lucky and we need to find a way to get better.”
Sylvia Fowles collected a game-high 23 points and 20 rebounds for the junior’s second 20-20 game of her career. The 6-6 junior center was 8-12 from the floor and 7-9 from the free line, including two with 1:38 left to play to put LSU up 47-44.
USC’s Sims hit a jumper seconds later that cut the lead back down to one before White’s two free throws.
LSU took an early 8-4 lead in the game before South Carolina went on a 6-0 run to take their only lead of the half, 10-8. The Lady Tigers then used an 8-0 run to retake the lead and built as much as a seven-point lead late in the half. The Gamecocks scored the final four points of the half to cut LSU’s lead to 28-25 at the break.
The Lady Tigers scored the first two points of the second half to build the lead back to five, but USC retook the lead, 31-10, with 17 minutes to play. An Allison Hightower jumper put LSU back on top where they remained until Ilona Burgova scored to give the Lady Gamecocks a 37-36 lead.
Another Hightower jumper followed to give LSU a 38-37 advantage and a Quianna Chaney lay-up and a Fowles free throw build the lead to 41-37.
South Carolina scored the next four points to tie, but Hightower struck again as the freshman hit a jumper with 4:48 left to put the Lady Tigers up for good.
Hightower finished the game with six points. Chaney finished with eight.
Fowles scored 18 of her 23 points in the opening 20 minutes and she grabbed 12 of her 20 boards in the first half.
LSU shot just 27.6 percent from the floor, but connected on 17-22 free throws and won the battle of the boards, 43-33.
USC connected on 39.6 percent from the floor and committed 17 turnovers.
The Lady Tigers will return home to host Florida on Thursday at 8 p.m. CST in the Maravich Center.
GAME NOTES
– Sylvia Fowles recorded her 11th straight double double with 23 points and 20 rebounds today. The double double is her 17th of the season and 52nd of her career.
– Fowles scored 20 points for the eighth time this season and the 22nd time in her career with her 23 points today.
– Fowles recorded the second 20-20 game of her career with 23 points and 20 rebounds. Her other came against Vanderbilt on Jan. 26, 2006 (26 pts, 22 reb.).
– Fowles moved into third-place on LSU’s career rebounds list, passing Joanette Boutte.