BATON ROUGE — The LSU women’s basketball team dominated in all facets of the game as the Lady Tigers defeated Texas Southern University, 86-36, Tuesday morning in the Maravich Assembly Center in front of an announced crowd of 5,504, which included about 2,500 elementary school students.
“We obviously had a quick turnaround and I felt like our team stayed focus on what our game plan was,” said head coach Nikki Fargas. “We had an amazing crowd today with the Baton Rouge community coming out and supporting us on the field trip day. It was loud in here. They were definitely a spark for us. It was a fun environment for our team to play in.”
With the win, the Lady Tigers (5-4) are 4-0 all-time against Texas Southern. LSU won by 50 points, marking the largest scoring margin ever between the two teams, a series that dates back to 1978.
The last team to score less than 40 points against the Lady Tigers was Alabama on Feb. 8, 2015. LSU won that SEC contest 51-39.
LSU finished with five players, including four starters in double figures in points. Shanice Norton led the team in scoring with a season-high 15 points, followed by Jenna Deemer with 14, Alexis Hyder and Jasmine Rhodes with 13 apiece and Rina Hill with 12. Alexis Hyder led the team in rebounding and assists, grabbing nine and dishing six.
For the game, the Lady Tigers shot 49 percent from the field, 88 percent from the free-throw line and outrebounded Texas Southern 39-27. Texas Southern shot 32 percent from the field and committed 26 turnovers in the contest. Makenna Pouengue led Texas Southern in scoring with 12 points.
The Lady Tigers started the game on fire, making their first six baskets to take a 14-6 lead before Texas Southern called a timeout with 5:30 remaining in the first quarter. Despite a couple more baskets from Texas Southern, the Lady Tigers ended the quarter with a 26-13 lead.
In the second quarter, the Lady Tigers limited Texas Southern to 11 points. Meanwhile, LSU continued its dominance, scoring 22 points in the half to take a commanding 48-24 lead going in to halftime. Forty-eight points was the most the Lady Tigers have scored in the first half this season.
At the half, the Lady Tigers shot 52 percent from the field. They controlled the boards, outrebounding Texas Southern 18-12. Texas Southern shot 43 percent from the field and committed 13 turnovers in the first half.
In the third quarter, the Lady Tigers allowed Texas Southern only four points. LSU continued to play well, establishing a 40-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Tigers, who have played nine games in 19 days to open the season, will have some time to recover and prepare for their next game on Sunday, Dec. 13, against UC Santa Barbara at 3 p.m., in the Maravich Center. The game will be broadcast by the SEC Network.
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.
POSTGAME QUOTES
LSU HEAD COACH NIKKI FARGAS
Opening statement …
“Today was a good quality win for our basketball team. We did a lot of good things and defensively we made a step in the right direction. We were a team that was committed to our defensive philosophy, which was really shutting down the strong side. We wanted to show support and then rebound the basketball. Offensively, we executed. We made the extra passes. We had 17 assists on the day with limited turnovers. That’s a team that’s playing together and that’s how we want the team to play.
On the defensive scheme …
“Went back to our five defense and talked about really taking away the strong side when the ball is put on the wing. It needed to look like five people were defending the basketball and invite the skip. I thought that our back line did a nice job of really trying to be physical and disrupt any easy entry passes to (Kianna) Vines. She’s a very good basketball player. We had the opportunity to scout her and we wanted to take away certain action and she was one of those young ladies that we highlighted in our film session and scouting as well as (Toni) Cheadle and their ability to score in the paint was what we wanted to take away. Our kids did a really nice job of doing that today.”
On freshman Shanice Norton …
“You look at Shanice Norton and she’s a very talented young lady. Her number is being called early in her career and it’s only going to help her become better. There is no other simulation than actual game experience and as the season goes on she’s going to get more comfortable and she’s going to make some great plays for us. Defensively she can be a nightmare for the opponent and she’s also athletic enough to go and get rebounds. I can see her taking up some of those responsibilities that (Raigyne) Moncrief had. I can see that also from Jasmine Rhodes. She’s got to step up and today she played big for us, knocking down some wide open shots but I was also pleased with her defensive effort in the back of our zone. She was at the right place at the right time and we are just going to have to really do this all by committee.”
On the team’s depth …
“This has been a tough stretch for our team. When we scheduled the tournament at the Florida Gulf Coast, which was last year, you’re looking at a roster with at least 13 able bodies and with the changes that we had, that roster dwindled down to seven before the tournament was over. I thought the second game against Marist, we played with a lot more energy and a lot more pep in our step and then the third game I felt that we ran out of gas and didn’t bring that same intensity. Whether our team roster was 13 or now it’s eight, we still have to play a certain way and through us being one of the hardest working teams out there with eight people, and that’s being disciplined enough to support each other and share the basketball. That’s really the two things that we talked about, supporting each other on the defensive end and sharing the basketball offensively, then things are going to happen for us.”
On the elementary kids in the crowd …
“That crowd was amazing and they were loud the entire game and it made it a fun atmosphere for our team to play in. When it’s that field trip game, you love to see those kids come out and support you.”
LSU PLAYER QUOTES
On learning how to play with a short bench…
“We played as a family and with heart. We did the job that we needed to do.”
On controlling the game…
“We just need to make sure we keep playing as a team. We have to share the ball and keep doing what the coaches are telling us to do.”
“We stayed motivated and made sure we had each other’s backs. If we continue to do the same thing then the rest of the season will be easy for us.”
On having the kids at the game…
“It was great to have them there. It’s always great to have support in the stands. It is always good to have people in the stands behind us. It really picks up the tempo for things.”
“I think it really helped. The team was behind me the whole time too. Any mistake I made, they had my back. It was a family atmosphere and it really helped.”
On learning how to play with a short bench…
“I think we are committed to playing hard no matter how many we have. Coach tells us to play hard and that’s what we went out and did today.”
On controlling the game…
“A win is a win, but I think we definitely had fun today. The kids cheering and smiling made it a good atmosphere.”
On taking care of the basketball…
“We go in and try to take care of the basketball. I give credit to Rina (Hill) because she does a great job as our point guard. She handled their pressure and we only had six turnovers for the night.”