BATON ROUGE ? LSU preseason All-American guard Allison Hightower eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career with 15 points, and the seventh-ranked Lady Tigers improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2006 with an 86-49 win over Nicholls State on Sunday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Lady Tigers (4-0) won their 29th consecutive game against an opponent from the state of Louisiana. LSU has not lost to an in-state opponent since Dec. 31, 1999, at Tulane. LSU has not lost a home game to a Louisiana team since 1995.
“Our team has done a nice job of taking care of business,” LSU head coach Van Chancellor said. “I thought we should beat Nicholls State tonight, and we did. I’m really pleased that Allison Hightower scored 1,000 points. I can’t think of a more deserving player. That’s the only reason I started her in the second half. I was trying to let her have an opportunity to get 1,000 at home. I thought it would be much more meaningful for her to get it here.”
For the third time in four games and the 37th time in three seasons under head coach Van Chancellor, LSU held an opponent to 50 points or less. The Lady Tigers forced the Colonels into 17 turnovers and converted those into 25 points. Nicholls (0-3) finished 33.3 percent (18-of-54) from the field.
Hightower, who entered the night with 986 career points, was 6-of-13 from the floor with six assists in 22 minutes of action. She became the 28th Lady Tiger in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau and the first since Quianna Chaney did so in 2008. The Southeastern Conference Preseason Player of the Year stands at 1,001 points for her career.
“Well, to tell you the truth, I didn’t even know about it,” Hightower said. “I was really confused because [my teammates] were like, ?Allison, shoot the ball!’ It was very exciting when I found out. It’s something special.”
“Anything that could mean something to a program, she means to us,” Chancellor added. “She plays so hard everywhere. She plays great defense. I think she is by far the best defensive player in the league, maybe even the country. She’s a good rebounder, great offensive player and just does everything remarkably well. She doesn’t turn the ball over. She’s also very unselfish.”
Sophomore forward Swayze Black responded off the bench with a career-high 10 points to go along with nine rebounds. Two true freshmen reached double-figures as Adrienne Webb and Bianca Lutley each had 12 points.
Nicholls’ Ricshanda Bickham led all scorers with 23 points on 8-of-19 from the floor.
LSU opened the game with a 15-0 run. Hightower had six of the Lady Tigers’ first eight points and she made her first three shots. Taylor Turnbow went the length of the floor on a steal, drew a foul and converted an old-fashioned 3-point play with 15:50 to go. Hightower’s steal and layup on the ensuing possession closed the 15-0 run to the start the game.
Webb got into the act with a layup on a terrific assist from Hightower. Destini Hughes then knocked down a 3-pointer from the left baseline while she was fouled. Her free throw gave LSU a 24-5 advantage with 9:11 remaining in the half.
The Lady Tigers took a 46-15 lead into the locker room while holding the Colonels to 25 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes. Hightower had 13 points in the first half to lead all scorers.
LSU scored the first two baskets of the second half on layups by LaSondra Barrett and Black. Hightower stepped to the line at the 15:15 mark one point shy of 1,000 career points. She drained both free throws and was immediately lifted from the game to a standing ovation for her achievement.
Webb fired in a 3-pointer at the 14:23 mark, and the Lady Tigers held their largest lead, 66-24, on a jumper from Barrett with 12:43 remaining.
LSU’s bench outscored the Colonels, 50-2, as several Lady Tiger reserves saw action in the final 15 minutes. LSU finished 55.2 percent from the floor on 32-of-58 shooting.
LSU travels for its first road game of the season when the Lady Tigers face Tulane on Wednesday night in New Orleans. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST. The game will be carried live on the LSU Sports Radio Network on 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge.