LONG BEACH, Calif. – The LSU women’s basketball team will face its first true road test of the 2014-15 season as the Lady Tigers open a two-game swing Tuesday against Long Beach State.
Tipoff is slated for 9 p.m. CT from Walter Pyramid, and the game will not be carried by television. 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 Tigers, also will be available for Geaux Zone subscribers at www.LSUsports.net/live.
Last time out, Long Beach State (8-1) emerged with a 58-56 overtime victory over No. 18 California. Devin Hudson provided the heroics with the game-winning put back bucket with three seconds remaining. The 8-1 start is the best start for the 49ers since the 1986-87 season, and Long Beach State checks in at No. 27 in the latest RPI ratings. Hudson is one three players averaging in double figures with 10.0 points per game. She is joined by Raven Benton (11.9 PPG) and Anna Kim (10.0 PPG).
Coming off their final exams break, the Lady Tigers (4-4) picked up a 75-42 win over Southeastern Louisiana to even its record at 4-4. LSU’s 75 points were a season-high as the Lady Tigers relied heavily on their starting five who racked up 59 points, 40 rebounds and 19 assists.
Tuesday’s game will serve as a homecoming for Long Beach native and senior forward Sheila Boykin who secured her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds versus Southeastern Louisiana. She has started LSU’s last two games and has averaged 6.3 points coupled with 6.6 rebounds per game. Her 6.6 rebounds per game are second on the team.
“You look at Sheila Boykin being from California, and I like go back to where our kids are from at least one time during their careers,” head coach Nikki Caldwell said. “Long Beach State took USC into overtime earlier in the season and just beat Cal in overtime last weekend. They are a very competitive basketball team. We may play a west coast team during NCAA Tournament play. We want to expose our team to playing against different styles of basketball. Going on the road allows your team to have that time together to continue to build that cohesion that you have to have. It’s important to establish what your identity is going to be on the road because it’s pretty demanding when we get to SEC play. Being able to take our team on the road in hostile environments, those are things that are only going to help us later on.”
DaShawn Harden and Raigyne Moncrief have ignited the Lady Tigers backcourt. Moncrief has racked up a team-leading 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. She handed out a career-best nine assists during the Southeastern Louisiana game and has distributed 20 of her 24 assists on the season over her last three outings.
Harden has racked up double figures in her last four outings and matched her career-high of 20 points against Southeastern Louisiana. She has averaged 15.0 points per game and connected on 12 three-pointers during the four-game stretch. Harden’s 2.6 steals per game also rank sixth on the SEC leaderboard.
Anne Pedersen has chipped in 6.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. She has started all eight games and posted a 10-point effort versus Southeastern Louisiana, her third time reaching double figures on the season. Pedersen has dished out multiple assists in five of eight games.
Akilah Bethel has compiled 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game over her eight starts on the season. She collected nine points and a season-high seven rebounds against Southeastern Louisiana.
LSU’s bench play was fueled by Stephanie Amichia, Jenna Deemer and Rina Hill who amassed 16 points and eight rebounds during the Southeastern Louisiana game. Deemer has upped her scoring to 9.0 points per game over her last two appearances.
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.