SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — LaSondra Barrett notched her eighth career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds and LSU smothered Seton Hall defensively to win the Anaconda Sports “The Rock” Seton Hall Classic by a score of 58-40 on Saturday afternoon in Walsh Gymnasium.
The Lady Tigers (2-2) held the Pirates to 26.3 percent shooting and rode an 11-point halftime advantage through the second half, never relinquishing the lead. The second half did get interesting when the margin was cut to seven while the Lady Tigers misfired on several free throw attempts.
As a team, LSU shot 16-of- 30 from the line and Seton Hall did not fare any better, shooting at a 9-of-20 clip. From the floor, the Lady Tigers finished at 36.5 percent (19-of-52).
“This was the LSU defense of old tonight,” said LSU head coach Van Chancellor. “We only give up 40 points. This was a great defensive effort on the road in a tough environment. We made them force a lot of shots. We still have to find somebody that gives us a basket when we need it. And we have got to make free throws. Getting to the line 30 times is great, but we have to convert them.”
Barrett drained 6-of-7 free throws and tallied her first double-double since the Ole Miss game last season. Taylor Turnbow was outstanding on the glass, grabbing a season-best 10 rebounds to go along with six points. Katherine Graham scored 14 points with six boards.
Seton Hall, coached by USA Basketball Olympic head coach Anne Donovan, dropped to 1-2 on the young season. They were led by Kandice Green, who finished with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
The Lady Tigers went on an 11-0 spurt starting at the 8:10 mark of the first half to take control of the game. Jeanne Kenney drained a three-pointer and LSU cleaned up on the offensive glass when both Graham and Turnbow converted putbacks. The Lady Tigers led 31-20 at the half.
The Pirates then sliced their way into the deficit, coming within eight points when Green buried a jumper off the glass. LSU still led 41-33 and Barrett worked her way to the line with 6:27 left in the game. Her two free throws were good and four minutes later she provided the clutch shot of the game with a trey at the top of the key that put the game out of reach.
Barrett tacked on two more free throws with 1:46 to go that made it 53-38 in favor of LSU.
LSU returns home to host Tulane at 7 p.m. CST Tuesday in the Maravich Center. The game will be televised live on Cox Sports Television (channel 37 in Baton Rouge) and be carried by the LSU Sports Radio Network on 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge. Live streaming HD video and audio is available to members of the Geaux Zone on www.LSUsports.net/live.