It was a Senior Night to remember for LSU guards Adrienne Webb and Bianca Lutley as the LSU women’s basketball team won its fifth-straight game Thursday with a 76-42 rout against Alabama to further secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Webb led the Lady Tigers with a game-high 21 points in her final regular-season game in the PMAC. Lutley also had a big game, finishing with 12 points and six rebounds.
“You always want to go out with a bang, and it just so happens we went out with a really big bang in our Senior Night,” Webb said. “… The support we’ve had the past four years has been amazing, and to have the crowd that we did tonight is a great way for us to go out.”
The Lady Tigers (18-10, 9-6 Southeastern Conference) didn’t waste time against the Crimson Tide (12-16, 2-13 SEC), scoring the first 13 points of the game.
Alabama was able to chip away at the early deficit, diminishing it to five points midway through the first half. But LSU outscored the Crimson Tide 22-7 for the remainder of the period to head into the locker room with a 39-19 lead.
LSU struggled shooting from the field in the first half, but made up for it by securing 16-for-18 from the charity stripe and out-rebounding Alabama 32-19.
“We talk about playing ‘LSU basketball’ no matter who our opponent is, and I think we did that today,” said LSU coach Nikki Caldwell. “… We didn’t shoot the ball extremely well, but we got all over the offensive glass and drove the ball inside to get ourselves to the free-throw line.”
The bludgeoning continued in the second half, when LSU outscored Alabama 37-23.
LSU freshman guard Danielle Ballard finished with five steals, to improve her season total to 87 and break the program’s all-time record for steals by a freshman in a single season.
LSU’s defense stifled Alabama all night, holding the Crimson Tide to 18-for-63 shooting from the field and 3-for-27 shooting from behind the arc. Alabama was led by sophomore guard Daisha Simmons, who had 10 points.
Although it was Senior Night, this may not be LSU’s last game in the PMAC this season as it vies for an NCAA Tournament bid. As hosts, the Lady Tigers have an opportunity to play the first two rounds in their home venue.
“This won’t be the last time we play in the PMAC,” Webb said. “We hope to have two more games here.”
The victory gives the Lady Tigers a 9-6 SEC record and keeps them at a stalemate with Vanderbilt for sixth place in the conference.
LSU will play its final regular-season game in College Station, Texas, where it will take on No. 13 Texas A&M. The Lady Tigers fell to the Aggies 57-74 when the two programs first met in early February.
“You always want to go out with a bang, and it just so happens we went out with a really big bang in our Senior Night.”
