NEW ORLEANS, La. – The LSU women’s basketball team dropped a 67-63 decision to the Tulane Green Wave at Devlin Fieldhouse Monday evening. LSU falls to 3-2 on the year and 1-2 in road games with the loss.
Sophomore guard Jenna Deemer returned to her hometown of New Orleans and led LSU in scoring for her third consecutive game with 19 points, tying her season high. Deemer was 5-of-10 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 on three-point shots and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
Senior Akilah Bethel and freshman Shanice Norton also scored in double digits with 10 points apiece. Bethel led the team in rebounding for the second-straight game with seven boards. She also dished out a team-high three assists and forced three steals. Junior Alexis Hyder led the way with four steals and registered seven points and three rebounds.
After leading almost the entire first half, LSU struggled offensively in the second half. Tulane opened the half with a 6-0 run and led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter after outscoring the Lady Tigers 18-4 in the third quarter. LSU rallied and was able to close the gap to eight points with one minute left on the clock. The Lady Tigers went on a 9-5 run and was down by just four points, 65-61, with 11 seconds remaining on the clock as Norton hit the basket and was fouled on the shot for the and-one. LSU was forced to foul and Tulane added two points off free throws before Norton hit the last layup for LSU for the eventual 67-63 loss.
LSU outscored Tulane 26-16 in the fourth quarter and Deemer and Norton combined for 21 of LSU’s 26 points. The Lady Tigers were 23-of-56 from the field and 13-of-16 from the free-throw line. Tulane was 22-of-54 from the field and 19-of-25 from the free-throw line. Tulane hit 14-of-19 free throws in the second half, and outrebounded LSU in the game, 37-32.
Kolby Morgan and Leslie Vorpahl led the Green Wave in scoring with 18 and 16 points, respectively. Morgan also hauled in 11 rebounds for a double-double.
LSU jumped out early in the game with two quick baskets by Rina Hill and Akilah Bethel and the only time Tulane led in the first half was a two-point lead (6-4) with 7:37 left in the first quarter. The Lady Tigers’ largest lead in the first half was nine points. Tulane rallied late in the half and tied the score at 33 off a three pointer by Vorpahl before the squads took to the locker room for the intermission.
The stats were very even in the first half. Both teams hit 13-of-28 shots from the field in the first half and both hit five free throws. LSU was 5-of-8 from the line and Tulane was 5-of-6 from the line. Tulane posted a 17-16 rebounding advantage and the Green Wave turned the ball over one more time than LSU.
LSU Starters
Akilah Bethel, Alexis Hyder, Anne Pedersen, Rina Hill and Jenna Deemer
Tulane Starters
Kolby Morgan, Leslie Vorpahl, Tierra Jones, Courtnie Latham, Chinwe Duru
Game Notes
Raigyne Moncrief did not dress out today because of a knee injury. The preseason All-SEC pick has missed the last two games because of injury. Sophomore Jenna Deemer made her second-consecutive start for Moncrief. She has now started three career games for the Lady Tigers.
Alexis Hyder, Anne Pedersen and Rina Hill have started all five games for the Lady Tigers this season. Pedersen has started 22 consecutive games dating back to the midpoint of last season.
Freshman Ayana Mitchell, who has been limited with an injury the last two games, did not dress out against Tulane. She previously missed the UL-Monroe game.
Sophomore Alliyah Fareo saw her first game action of the season today. Fareo hit one of two free-throw attempts in seven minutes of action.
Jenna Deemer led the Lady Tigers in scoring for the third-straight game. Her 19 points against Tulane tied a season-high, which she logged earlier this season against Little Rock.
Freshman Shanice Norton posted a season-best 10 points in the game. Her previous high was three points against Wake Forest in the season opener.
Up Next
The Lady Tigers will play three straight days in the Gulf Coast Showcase at the Germain Arena in Estero, Fla., during the Thanksgiving break. The Lady Tigers face Purdue on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT, and either Marist or Louisville on Saturday. Sunday’s opponent will be either Dayton, Maine, Missouri State or Stanford from the other side of the bracket. The Gulf Coast Showcase games will be carried by Cox Sports Television.
LSU’s next home game is Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 11 a.m., against Texas Southern. This matchup is the 5th-Annual Field Trip game. All elementary schools in the greater Baton Rouge area are invited to attend this game for free. The first 5,000 EBR students in attendance will receive a LSU Lady Tigers pencil pouch.
For all of the latest news and information on Lady Tiger basketball, visit www.LSUsports.net/womensbasketball. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/LSUwbkb, @LSUwbkb and @NikkiCaldwell on Twitter, @LSUwbkb and @LSUNikkiCaldwell on Instagram.