TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — LSU’s eighth-ranked women’s basketball team opened the second half with a 22-3 run to put Alabama away on the way to the Lady Tigers’ 10th straight victory, 89-53, Thursday night in Coleman Coliseum.
The Lady Tigers (19-3, 8-0 SEC) used a 14-0 run during that start of the second half and Sylvia Fowles scored 14 of her game-high 24 points during the big start in the second half.
LSU opened the game slow, but ended the first half with a 27-14 run to own a 43-26 lead over the Crimson Tide (8-15, 1-7 SEC) at the break. The Lady Tigers built as much as a 20-point lead in the opening half and led 39-19 with just over three minutes remaining in the half.
The largest lead of the game, 75-35, came with 6:46 left.
“We started the game slowly, but got it going and we played very well tonight,” LSU head coach Van Chancellor said. “We did everything we needed to do to win this game and did it well.”
The Lady Tigers shot 54.5 percent from the field in the game, including 58.6 percent in the second half. LSU also forced 29 turnovers, collected 16 steals and scored 39 points off of Alabama’s turnovers.
LSU’s defense also held Alabama to 33.9 percent from the floor, including 29.0 percent in the second half.
Quianna Chaney added 13 points and Allison Hightower scored 11 points off the bench for LSU.
Mesha Williams collected eight points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots in 17 minutes of action.
Fowles made seven of 11 field goals and connected on 10 of 16 free throws in 22 minutes. The 6-6 center All-American grabbed 11 rebounds as well.
RaShonta LeBlanc chipped in seven points and led LSU with six steals, while Erica White scored six points dished out five assists and had four steals.
The Lady Tigers shot 50 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes and connected on 16 of 20 free throw attempts. Chaney led LSU with 11 points and Fowles added 10 in the half.
Tierney Jenkins led Alabama with 12 points and nine rebounds.
Both teams grabbed 38 rebounds.
LSU returns home to host Georgia in the Maravich Center on Sunday at 1 p.m. CST in the 12th annual Pack the PMAC presented by Lady Tiger Depot promotional game. Ticket start at $2 and are available by contacting the LSU Ticket Office or visiting www.LSUsports.net.
GAME NOTES
– Sylvia Fowles scored in double figures for the 19th game this season and the 109th game of her career with 24 points tonight. Her 20-plus points also mark her 33rd game with at least 20 points.
– Fowles recorded her 73rd career double double with her 24 points and 11 rebounds tonight.
– Quianna Chaney scored in double figures for the 19th game this season and the 58th game of her career with 13 points tonight.
– Allison Hightower scored in double figures for the 10th game this season and the 15th game of her career with 11 points tonight.
– LSU improved to 8-0 in the SEC for the third time in school history.