BATON ROUGE — Three LSU true freshmen scored in double figures, including a game-high 16 points from forward Taylor Turnbow, as the 22nd-ranked Lady Tiger basketball team cruised past the Houston Jaguars, 68-30, in its final exhibition game on Tuesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
LSU (2-0 in exhibition games) held the Jags to 22 percent from the field while forcing 19 turnovers and out-rebounding Houston, 56-36. The Jags (0-14) were completing a 14-game college tour through the month of November that included games at Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Baylor.
Turnbow had five points in the first half and then poured in 11 points in the second frame while finishing 6-of-10 from the field. Equally impressive, the Stone Mountain, Ga., native pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.
Fellow freshman LaSondra Barrett registered double figures for the second straight game with 12 points, five rebounds, a block and a steal in her first career start. Junior guard Allison Hightower finished with 11 points and eight boards.
“I thought our two freshmen right here, Taylor Turnbow and LaSondra Barrett, were outstanding,” LSU head coach Van Chancellor said. “Turnbow had 16 points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes. That’s good. That’s really good. I probably should have played her (Barrett) more, but she’s somebody I’m going to count on so I didn’t play her anymore. After she played well, I thought enough was enough. She can shoot the ball and Turnbow is a rebounding machine.”
LSU ran away with the game from the start, amassing a 16-0 run before Houston dropped its first bucket on a jumper off the glass by Shanta Johnson at the 11:14 mark. During the 9:46 scoreless stretch, the Lady Tigers used pressure defense up the floor that forced the Jags into numerous turnovers.
Sophomore guard Katherine Graham tallied two steals during the run that led to a pair of easy baskets. She took away a driving layup, went the length of the floor and buried a shot from six feet, and later added another steal and a layup.
Houston sliced the 16-point deficit to eight over the next three minutes. Forward Courtney Jones and Hightower were forced into turnovers and Siketha Shepard contributed five points on a jumper and 3-point shot with 9:25 to go in the first half.
However, the Lady Tigers reclaimed the double-digit margin when Barrett knocked down two layups and a pair of ensuing free throws. The freshman finished the first half with 10 points, four rebounds, a block and a steal during an 11-minute stretch.
LSU took a convincing 35-13 lead into the locker room after holding the Jags to 19 percent from the field on only five made baskets.
The Lady Tigers led by as many as 40 points in the second half and used a combination of lineups on the floor. LSU opened up the second half with a 19-7 run and never looked back. Six of Jones’ 10 points came in the final period.
LSU now turns its attention to 14th-ranked Notre Dame in the season-opening State Farm Tip-Off Classic on Sunday, Nov. 16 at the Maravich Center. The Lady Tigers take on the Irish at 1:30 p.m. CST. No. 10 Texas A&M takes on No. 23 Pittsburgh at approximately 4 p.m. Both games will be televised live on ESPN2.
Tickets for the State Farm Tip-Off Classic are available for only $1 and includes admission to both games. Tickets can be purchased through the LSU Athletics Ticket Office by calling 1-800-960-TKTS or 225-578-2184 or online at www.LSUsports.net.
LSU HEAD COACH VAN CHANCELLOR
Opening Statement…
“We out-rebounded them. I don’t know how strong of a team we played tonight. I would have liked to have shot a little better. I thought our two freshmen right here (F Taylor Turnbow and F LaSondra Barrett) were outstanding. Turnbow had 16 points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes. That’s good. That’s real good. Barrett played 17 minutes and had 12 points and five rebounds. I probably should have played her more, but she’s somebody I’m going to count on so I didn’t play her anymore. After she played well, I thought enough was enough. She can shoot the ball and Turnbow is a rebounding machine.”
On if he thought his player combinations worked like he wanted them to…
“We did everything but just stick the ball in the basket. In the second half we missed six second half lay ups and five three-point baskets just like that. Outside of that, I was really happy.”
On why he started G Katherine Graham…
“We changed the lineups two or three times and we’re probably going to change them again. Whoever is playing the best is going to play. I thought Graham outplayed (G Andrea) Kelly in the last exhibition game and every practice thereafter, so we put her in. I thought Barrett was outplaying and I’m not real sure that Turnbow isn’t outplaying other people, but she prefers to come off the bench and that’s where she’ll stay for a while until she gets comfortable. I’m not sure she wants to be introduced and all that stuff.
“I changed my mind at the last minute (to start Graham) and the reason I did was because I think against Notre Dame we’ll need some experience in the game and I talked to Taylor yesterday and her impression was that she might be better coming off the bench. IF she had a real strong desire to start, I probably would have started her. But that’s not what she wanted to do, and I’m not going to mess with a good thing.”
LSU PLAYER QUOTES
F LaShondra Barrett
On the difference between this game and last game …
“I think we played with a little more sense of urgency. We came out and played hard from jump ball and it continued throughout the game. Last game we started off a little slow. In this game, after watching film and preparing we had a better mindset.”
On if she thinks they can win against Notre Dame …
“A lot of people don’t know our post can really shoot and get to the goal also. If our guards are playing smart and taking care of the ball and knocking down shots, we can beat them.”
On if she’s nervous about being on a nationally televised game …
“I don’t feel nervous. I’m more excited than nervous. It’s a lot different than high school. I’m more excited and anxious about playing on ESPN2 and for LSU.”
On her feelings about playing against Notre Dame …
“At first we didn’t have confidence because we’re freshman and it’s hard to make it in this conference. But Coach Chancellor has instilled in us that we can play and that if we practice hard and prepare then we can be successful.”
On not having a fixed starting rotation …
“I think with the rotation it doesn’t really matter because we have different rotations in all the time. I like having the feeling that I can go out there with anybody and be successful.”