The Lady Tigers clinched their eighth straight home victory in comeback fashion on Sunday, defeating Vanderbilt 54-51 in the PMAC.
LSU (12-7, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) erased what was once a 10-point second-half deficit to defeat the Commodores (13-5, 3-2 SEC).
“Having this home court advantage is so great because we have such an amazing crowd to keep us in the game,” said LSU junior forward Theresa Plaisance. “In those momentum swings, we have that extra effort coming from the crowd, giving us that extra energy.”
The Lady Tigers jumped out an 8-2 lead early on, but after a 10-minute stretch in which they scored only one field goal, they found themselves trailing 24-16 at halftime.
LSU mounted a second-half comeback capped off with a 3-pointer by Plaisance tied the game up 34-34 with 11:45 remaining.
From there, the game went back-and-forth, both teams exchanging blows until Plaisance hit another 3-pointer with just over one minute remaining that put the Lady Tigers ahead for good.
The game was clinched when LSU senior guard Bianca Lutley picked the pocket of Vanderbilt sophomore guard Kady Schrann and was fouled with 7.5 seconds remaining in the game.
Lutley went on to make both free throws, and Vanderbilt junior guard Christina Foggie missed a desperation 3-point shot to seal the victory for LSU.
“I have been working on my free throws, and today they were falling for me,” Lutley said. “I shoot 20 free throws before each game and that helped today.”
Plaisance played a significant role in the Lady Tigers’ victory, scoring 26 points — 21 in the second half — and seven rebounds. The performance was the 18th straight game in which she has scored in double digits.
Senior guard Adrienne Webb also contributed in the comeback, scoring all 10 of her points in the second half.
The Lady Tigers will be back on the road on Sunday when they head to Lexington, Ky., where they will take on No. 5 Kentucky.
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LSU freshman guard Anne Pedersen (4) looks to pass the ball Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU junior forward Theresa Plaisance (55) shoots the ball Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU senior guard Bianca Lutley (3) shoots the ball Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU senior guard Adrienne Webb (10) shoots the ball Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU junior guard Jeanne Kenney (5) dribbles the ball down the court Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU freshman guard Danielle Ballard (32) dribbles the ball down the court Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU head coach Nikki Caldwell watches the Lady Tigers play Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU freshman center Derreyal Youngblood dodges a defender Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU junior forward Theresa Plaisance (55) shoots the ball Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU junior forward Theresa Plaisance (55) looks toward the goal Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU freshman guard Danielle Ballard (32) and LSU senior guard Adrienne Webb (10) reach for the ball Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU junior forward Theresa Plaisance (55) looks around a defender at the goal Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU senior guard Adrienne Webb (10) holds the ball Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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LSU senior guard Adrienne Webb (10) and Vanderbilt freshman forward Heather Bowe (2) watch Webb’s shot Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 during the 54-51 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the PMAC.
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