CANCUN, Mexico — All but one player cracked the scoring column for the eighth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team in an 86-44 victory over Illinois-Chicago in the first game of the 2007 Caribbean Classic on Tuesday afternoon in the Moon Palace Resort.
Sylvia Fowles led the way for the Lady Tigers (8-2) with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Quianna Chaney added 14 points, Allison Hightower had 13 points off the bench and Ashley Thomas chipped in with 10 points.
Erica White added eight points and three assists, while Kristen Morris scored seven points and grabbed nine rebounds off the bench.
“This was a continuation of how well we played on Sunday at Louisiana Tech,” LSU head coach Van Chancellor said. “We played extremely well defensively and our offense is improving with each game.”
The Lady Tigers shot 45.1 percent from the floor, hitting 32 of 71 shots. LSU also connected on 19 of 22 free throws.
Defensively, LSU held the Flames (3-6) to 34.6 percent from the floor, forced 25 turnovers and collected 17 steals. The Lady Tigers also outrebounded UIC, 39-33
LSU jumped out to an early 13-2 lead and never looked back, leading by as much as 25 in the opening 20 minutes.
Fowles scored 10 of her game-high 17 in the second half, including the first six points of the second half to expand on LSU’s 45-22 halftime lead.
The Lady Tigers’ largest lead of the game, 44, came in the final two minutes of the game.
LSU will face Miami (Fla.) on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. CST in the second game of the Caribbean Classic. The Hurricanes defeated Southern Miss, 63-56, in their first game in Cancun.
GAME NOTES
Ashley Thomas recorded her third double figure scoring game of the season and the 13th time of her career with 10 points today.
Quianna Chaney scored in double figures for the seventh time this season and the 46th of her career with 14 points today.
Sylvia Fowles scored in double figures for the 10th time this season and the 100th time of her career with 17 points today.
Fowles also moved over 1,300 career rebounds with her 8 boards today. She now has 1,304 Rebounds in her career.
Allison Hightower recorded her fifth double figure scoring game of the season and the 10th time of her career with 13 today.
With the victory, LSU extended its winning streak in the month of December to 32 games. The Lady Tigers have not lost in December since Dec. 29, 2001.
LSU has now won 86 of the last 87 games when scoring 75 points or more.