LSU Gold

Pointer Leads LSU to Junkanoo Jam Title; Earns MVP Honor

by Judy Willson | Assoc. Communications Director
Box Score (PDF) - Nov. 30 - LSU 89, Memphis 58 +0
Pointer Leads LSU to Junkanoo Jam Title; Earns MVP Honor

BIMINI, BAHAMAS – LSU junior Khayla Pointer was the leading scorer for the second game in a row as the Lady Tigers beat Memphis, 89-58, to win the Bimini Division of the 2019 Junkanoo Jam on Saturday night. Pointer scored 17 points and earned the Bimini Division Most Valuable Player honor.

LSU is now 7-1 with its sixth consecutive victory. It is the first time LSU has started the season 7-1 since the 2013-14 season when the Tigers were ranked in the top 15 and advanced as far as the NCAA Sweet 16.

Pointer was one of four LSU players to score in double figures in the championship game. Junior Faustine Aifuwa scored 16 points, while senior Ayana Mitchell recorded 11 points. Freshman Domonique Davis pitched in with 10 points as the LSU bench scored 41 points in the win.

LSU shot 60.7 percent from the field, including 60 percent from three-point range. The Lady Tigers won the battle of the boards for the seventh time this season, 42-26.

How It Happened

  • Pointer tied the game at 4-4 on a jumper in the paint and Mitchell followed 24 seconds later with a layup to give LSU its first lead of the game, 6-4 with 7:50 left in the first quarter.
  • LSU never relinquished the lead and went on an 11-0 run late in the quarter after Memphis had cut the lead to 14-10. Pointer and junior Jailin Cherry each took a charge during the run to keep the momentum in LSU’s favor.
  • Pointer hit a shot in the paint with two second left in the quarter for her ninth point of the game and to give LSU a 27-15 lead after one period.
  • It was Aifuwa’s turn to build up LSU’s lead with a team-leading nine points in the second quarter. She hit three buckets in a row to score six points in 84 seconds and give LSU a 41-20 lead after the media timeout. Her six points capped a 10-0 run for LSU.
  • At the half, LSU had a 50-26 lead thanks to 32 points in the paint, 21 off of turnovers and 11 from the bench.
  • LSU continued to build its lead in the third quarter as the big three of Pointer, Aifuwa and Mitchell scored nine of the team’s 16 third quarter points.
  • LSU took a 66-41 lead into the fourth quarter.
  • The starters gave way to the bench with the comfortable lead and did not see a drop in momentum.
  • Davis scored all 10 of her points in the fourth quarter, as the bench scored 23 points and held off Memphis for the final of 89-58.

Up Next

LSU hosts Nicholls State on Tuesday, December 3 at 11 a.m. in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. It is the annual Field Trip Game for local elementary and middle school students.

It is the first of four games in December, the final non-conference games of the regular season before SEC play begins in January.

Head Coach Nikki Fargas

On the team’s experience in the Bahamas…

“This has been an amazing experience for our team. The competition obviously brought us here, but the people are what makes any experience special. Everybody’s hospitality has been unbelievable. From the people that are at the hotel to here at the arena to us just being out in the community, I just really appreciate this opportunity to share this with these young ladies. They deserve (this win). They work really hard and this is something they are going to remember for the rest of their lives.”

On the team’s motivation in the championship game…

“We talked about the athlete is really right here, is your mind, and your body is just the vessel that you need to play and compete. But we are also very grateful and thankful for the Lord above for giving us this chance to be out here to compete. And this group is resilient, they play hard, they play together. They don’t mind or care who gets the credit for it. So they are playing in a place of being unselfish and more importantly of being of service to each other.”

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