BATON ROUGE — Tulane’s Olivia Grayson scored a game-high 21 points and the Green Wave survived some late misses at the free throw line to snap the LSU women’s basketball team’s 33-game winning streak against Louisiana opponents, 54-52, on Tuesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Lady Tigers (2-3) lost to an in-state opponent for the first time since Dec. 31, 1999, when Tulane defeated LSU. The Lady Tigers also saw a 36-game home winning streak against Louisiana competition come to an end. It was the first loss in the Maravich Center since Jan. 18, 1995.
Tulane (4-0) ended an eight-game losing skid to its in-state rival and won in Baton Rouge for only the second time in the series history. Grayson fired in 7-of-15 from the floor while playing all 40 minutes.
“Let’s give Tulane credit,” said LSU head coach Van Chancellor. “They did a great job of winning. They drove the ball to the basket, went to the free throw line, did a great job with about six minutes to go of getting every loose ball rebound there was.”
LSU was playing without arguably its top player in All-Southeastern Conference forward LaSondra Barrett. Barrett was in Mississippi attending the funeral services of her grandmother who passed away late last week.
Three Lady Tigers finished in double-figures highlighted by 16 points from Adrienne Webb who gave LSU a shot to win in the final seconds. Katherine Graham added 12 points and freshman guard Jeanne Kenney scored a career-high 10 points, including eight straight in the first half.
With LSU trailing 53-49 following a pair of free throws by Whitney Bibbins, Webb caught a pass in the right corner and fired in her fourth three of the night with nine seconds remaining. Kenney then fouled Grayson who made only the second of two free throws that made it 54-52.
LSU guard Destini Hughes dribbled up the floor, drove through the lane and drew a foul with 0:00.3 seconds left on the clock. Hughes, attempting her first free throw of the season, missed the first off the back iron and intentionally missed the second one in hopes of a desperation tip as time expired.
LSU saw a 26-22 halftime lead diminish five minutes into the second stanza. The Lady Tigers shot 43.5 percent in the first half but were only 29.0 percent in the second half. They finished at 35.2 percent for the game, while Tulane was only 31.7 percent from the floor.
LSU was uncharacteristically plagued with 18 turnovers on the night.
LSU travels to the World Vision Classic this weekend in Storrs, Conn. The Lady Tigers play Lehigh at 4 p.m. CT Friday, Howard at 4 p.m. CT Saturday and top-ranked Connecticut at 3:30 p.m. CT
LSU Player Quotes
On when she found out LaSondra Barrett was not going to play …
“I found out when she did not come to practice yesterday. She has been very supportive, and she sent everyone a text messaging telling us good luck and that she would be with us in spirit. We have been praying for her and her family, and everything will be all right with her.”
On being without LaSondra Barrett …
“She is a scoring threat and her defense is not bad. Without having a scoring threat, other people had to step up. We also missed her encouraging attitude and her ability to get us fired up.”
On Tulane’s performance …
“Tulane is a very good team and they are very athletic. They definitely outplayed us in the second half. We talked about coming out early as the first five minutes is crucial, but they wanted the ball more in the second half and it showed.”
On the last minute of the game …
“I definitely should have made that layup. I did not realize that I was wide open. I should have come down and then gone up with it. as far as the free throws, we want to take the ball to the goal. With seven seconds, if we didn’t have a shot, then the goal is to attack. No one person loses the game. Those free throws that she missed did not lose us the game. We missed other free throws and easy shots and layups. We win together and we lose together.”
On the effects of her injured eye …
“I wasn’t really worried about it. I knew that if I were to get hit again, I would just have to get it stitched up again and then keep playing. I came out here to play for my team, and whatever happens to me, happens. I just had to keep playing because I am not here for myself, I am here for my team.”
On the team’s performance …
“Tonight was just a tough break. Some shots that we normally make were not falling. We had some breakdowns, but Tulane is a very good team.”