The No. 22 LSU women’s basketball team extended its recent hot streak into the postseason on Thursday night as it defeated Auburn 65-62 in its Southeastern Conference Tournament opener.
The game was competitive for about 10 minutes before sixth-seeded LSU (20-10, 11-6 SEC) put its foot on the gas and sped past No. 11 seed Auburn (16-14, 5-12 SEC), leading by as many as 18 points in the second half.
Auburn was able to make things interesting, cutting the deficit to within a possession with fewer than 10 seconds remaining, but it was too little, too late and LSU escaped with its seventh straight win.
LSU assistant coach Tony Perotti said the coaching staff reminded its team before the game that Auburn was playing for its life for a spot in the NCAA Tournament
“Give them credit,” Perotti said. “They got down a bunch, but they did not quit.”
Junior forward Theresa Plaisance led LSU with her seventh double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
LSU senior guard Adrienne Webb also had an impressive outing, shooting 7-for-12 from the field for 18 points.
LSU also got a spark off the bench from freshman guard Anne Pederson, who shot 4-for-7 for eight points.
“When we got [Pederson] opportunities to get open looks, she knocked down jumpers,” Perotti said. “That’s her game.”
Auburn was led by senior guard Blanche Alverson, who posted 17 points and nine rebounds in what was likely her last game at the program.
With the win, LSU moves on to the third round of the conference tournament where it will take on the third-seeded Georgia (24-5, 12-4 SEC) tonight.
The matchup comes almost a month after LSU defeated the then-No. 9 Bulldogs 62-54 in what was LSU’s first victory of its current seven-game win streak.
“Give them credit. They got down a bunch, but they did not quit.”
