BATON ROUGE – DaShawn Harden poured in 20 points fueled by a quartet of three-pointers to match a career-high as the LSU women’s basketball team returned to action from its final exams break with a convincing 75-42 victory over Southeastern Louisiana Sunday at the Maravich Center.
The Lady Tigers (4-4) used solid contributions from all five members of their starting lineup who amassed 59 of the team’s 75 points, 40 of the team’s 53 rebounds and 19 of the team’s 20 assists. LSU also secured its 21 straight victory over Southeastern Louisiana (3-6) dating back to the 1980-81 season.
Harden’s 20 points enabled her to reach double figures for the fourth consecutive game and were the most scored by a LSU player this season. She also racked up 20 points versus Stephen F. Austin last season during her LSU debut. Harden also collected career-highs with nine rebounds and four assists to go along with four steals.
Sheila Boykin turned in her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds over 19 minutes of action. She was 6-of-8 from the floor and registered seven of her 10 rebounds on the offensive end.
Anne Pedersen chipped in 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. It was Pedersen’s third effort in double figures on the season.
Raigyne Moncrief nearly compiled the fourth triple-double in program history. She distributed a career-high nine assists against only one turnover coupled with nine rebounds and eight points. Akilah Bethel picked up nine points and seven rebounds.
LSU’s bench effort was sparked by Jenna Deemer‘s seven points and three rebounds. Rina Hill came away with five points, while Stephanie Amichia tallied four points and three rebounds.
The Lady Tigers were 32-of-74 shooting and drained a season’s best seven three-pointers. LSU also worked its way to a 53-38 rebounding advantage and doubled up the Lady Lions by a 32-16 margin in paint points.
The opening four-plus minutes of the contest featured six lead changes, and LSU took the lead for good at 9-7 on a Harden three-pointer with 15:35 remaining.
Ahead 13-12 at the 10:15 mark, the Lady Tigers turned up the defensive intensity and forced Southeastern Louisiana into 18 straight missed field goal attempts. LSU also pumped in 13 consecutive points as five players hit baskets for the Lady Tigers. Three of the buckets were set up by Moncrief assists which included a Bethel jump hook to make it 26-12 with 5:18 to go.
LSU took a 33-14 advantage into the locker room and stretched its lead to as many as 22 points midway through the second half.
Southeastern Louisiana put together a 12-point flurry and drew back to within 10 points at 47-37 with 7:42 left. The Lady Lions were paced by Symone Miller and Elizabeth Styles who garnered 13 and 12 points, respectively.
LSU regained the momentum and charged back with a 12-0 run of their own. Harden ignited the spurt with a midrange jumper followed a Boykin layup off a high-low feed from Moncrief. Pedersen and Harden rattled home three-pointers, while Boykin added jumper inside the paint.
The Lady Tigers would knock down their final six field goals and concluded the game with 26 of the final 29 points over the last 7:09 off the clock for the winning margin of 75-42.
LSU plays its first true road game of the2014-15 season Tuesday at Long Beach State. Tipoff is slated for 9 p.m. CT from Walter Pyramid.
The LSU Sports Radio Network will broadcast the game on its flagship station Talk 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge. The broadcast featuring Patrick Wright, the voice of the Lady Tigers, also will be available for Geaux Zone subscribers at www.LSUsports.net/live.
Season tickets are on sale for $75 online at http://www.LSUtix.net/. The LSU Athletics Ticket Office can be reached at (800) 960-8587 or (225) 578-2184 and is located on the first floor of the Moran Family Center for Athletics Administration Building. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
For all of the latest news and information on Lady Tiger basketball, visit www.LSUsports.net/womensbasketball. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/LSUwbkb, @lsuwbkb and @NikkiCaldwell on Twitter, @LSUwbkb and @LSUNikkiCaldwell on Instagram.
LSU Women’s Basketball Postgame Quotes
LSU vs. Southeastern Louisiana – December 14, 2014
HEAD COACH NIKKI CALDWELL
Opening statement…
“We’ve talked about being a 40-minute basketball team, and I thought today we showed glimpses of it. I give a lot of credit to Southeastern Louisiana for really staying true to its game plan. They really continued to play hard. They came out in the second half and played a more aggressive style of play. We were able to make runs of our own, which I think separated us. I thought that we had key plays from different players at different times. If I had to give out a game ball today, obviously that game ball would go to Sheila Boykin for her energy plays, the intensity that she played with and doing the little things that made our team successful. But again, a lot of credit to the overall performance of this team today. After coming off an 11-day break, you’re wondering ‘Are we going to come out flat? How are we going to play?’ I thought today we showed a lot of courage by coming into this game and playing some very good basketball at critical times.”
On the team’s improvement on defense…
“I’ve seen us really grow in certain areas of our defensive scheme … We’ve got a lot of new faces, and we’re doing a lot of teaching at this time of the year. Our defense is going to get stronger and stronger as the season progresses. I saw a team though today in the second half struggle when we weren’t there on the close out. We allowed Southeastern to get in those dribble-drive lanes, and our defense is predicated on all five people guarding the basketball. It’s not left up to be a one-on-one situation. We missed some trapping opportunities along the baseline. When we commit to really playing our defense the way it’s supposed to look, we’re going to keep opponents in that 40-to-45 point range. We’re going to do some things offensively once we rebound out of it, and that’s what we were able to do today.”
On the decision not to play Ann Jones during today’s game …
“We got to watch out for her knees. Sometimes, they bother her on certain days a little bit more than others. We want to make sure that we’re not putting here in a situation where she’s going to be uncomfortable and having to play basketball in any type of pain. From an athletic trainer standpoint, Micki (Collins) and I had conversations regarding Ann. We decided not to play her today.”
On the play of Sheila Boykin and her double-double today…
“Two seasons ago, we didn’t even know if Shelia was going to walk. For her to come back from the Guillain-Barre Syndrome, it really speaks to who she is as a person. Her internal determination, her drive to be back with this team and to see her perform today was a glimpse of what’s to come for Sheila Boykin. I know she has a lot left in her and a lot of basketball to be played. She’s taking on that leadership role by being that player to do the little things today, something simple as making lay-ups, rebounding the basketball or getting tips and keeping the ball alive for her teammates. That’s the Sheila Boykin that I’ve known for over five years from recruiting her. It’s great to see her really have, if you will, a break out game. I’m proud of her teammates for really finding here getting her those looks as well inside.”
On what DaShawn Harden brings to the starting lineup…
“She’s one of our stronger ball handlers. She does a nice job of allowing (Raigyne) Moncrief to play off the ball at times. She’s somebody that’s also a recipient of a lot of Moncrief’s passes. If we can get Harden to continue to play like she did offensively in the second half, I thought she really tried to find her teammates and get other people easy looks. That’s the role that Raigyne Moncrief has taken on, and that’s why you see a nine assist to one turnover ratio. The unselfish play, the extra pass, those are the things that have made us a better basketball team. Those are the things that have eliminated our turnovers. I think we’re playing better with our post game. We’re at least getting the ball inside, and we’ve had some great post-ups in the second half. I didn’t feel like we finished well in the paint. We left about 20 points in the paint, but at least our guard play is now getting our ball inside and giving our post game those opportunities.”
LSU PLAYER QUOTES
FORWARD SHEILA BOYKIN
On the team’s performance following the final exams break …
“I wouldn’t say we had 11 days off from basketball. But no, I didn’t expect us to be rusty at all. I had confidence in my team that we were going to come out, and we were going to play well.”
On the first half scoring run…
“Of course, we had to buckle down on defense. We were getting a lot of offensive rebounds, but we weren’t converting. Once we started converting those, things picked up for us.”
On contributing to the team’s success (had a double double)…
“It’s been a tough road since my illness with Guillain-Barre (two years ago), but I’m glad that I’m with this staff and my teammates. They keep me going every single day. They do nothing but bring the best out of me. I feel like that’s part of today’s performance.”
GUARD DASHAWN HARDEN
On her shooting performance…
“I actually didn’t shoot well today. I think confidence is key to me shooting well though. Of course, we’ve been doing a lot of shooting – a lot of break down between individual guard and post drills. I think that’s helping my shot a lot.”
On crashing the boards…
“At the time, I felt like we needed to pick our tempo up. It’s easier when a guard rebounds and pushes. On a couple of them, I’m not going to lie, I got a little bit lucky. That’s it. I just got the ball and helped set our transition game faster.”
On the team’s improving chemistry…
“Coach Nikki (Caldwell) has been talking to us a lot about letting our teammates shine and helping them to shine. I think we’re really focusing more on, ‘It’s not about you.’ I know Raigyne’s (Moncreif #11) really taken that role, she had nine assists in today’s game. As a point guard, I think she’s really the one getting that going and getting everyone to share the ball.”
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA HEAD COACH YOLANDA MOORE
On SLU’s performance…
“For one, we weren’t able to shoot the ball. We went on a scoring drought in the first half, and in the second half. Our 3-point shot wasn’t falling. We kind of fell in love with it, I’m not sure why. We tried to get some stuff going to the basket in the second half, and we cut the lead down to 10. Our kids showed a lot of heart in that spurt, but we weren’t able to maintain that. I can’t say that I am pleased with our effort because I know they are much more capable than what they showed. We just have to get ready for the next game.”
On SLU’s shooting struggles…
“I’m not sure really what contributed to the shooting. We have been experiencing this all season. We will go on these spurts where we can’t get the ball in the basket. We just have to find a way to make shots. That is what it boils down to.”