The LSU women’s basketball team heads to Columbia, S.C., tonight with goals of ending its road struggles and upsetting No. 18 South Carolina.
The Lady Tigers (11-6, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) have trouble on the road with a 2-5 record outside of Baton Rouge.
LSU Coach Nikki Caldwell said success on the road is crucial in the SEC, but a win against the Gamecocks would have many benefits.
“Obviously a win against a very good ranked opponent looks good on your résumé as far as the committee is concerned, but it also would be a great confidence booster for our group in letting them know they can win on the road,” Caldwell said.
South Carolina (14-3, 2-2 SEC) has a swarming defense, allowing an average of 47 points from SEC opponents this season, while LSU has allowed an average of 65 points.
Caldwell said patience, composure and LSU’s multiple offensive contributors will help the Lady Tigers attack the defense. In nearly every game, each LSU player who checks into the game scores.
“A positive for us is we’ve had a balanced offensive attack,” Caldwell said. “We gotta make sure that we’re getting the ball to the right people at the right time and allowing our go-tos to do what they do best.”
Freshman guard Danielle Ballard has been one of those “go-tos” all season.
With only 17 games and 12 starts under her belt, the Memphis native has already broken into LSU’s top-10 steals for a freshman with 49. The guard is also second in both rebounding and scoring only behind junior forward Theresa Plaisance with 241 points and 101 rebounds.
Ballard brings an up-tempo transition game to the team with steals and deflections, but defensively, she’s a solid rebounder who Caldwell calls one of the “better rebounders in the guard position.”
The recent success doesn’t surprise Ballard. She said she puts in work during practice, so she expects those results during games. For the rest of the season, Ballard said she wants to be more coachable and only do what is best for the team.
“I feel great going to the rebounds and getting steals for my teammates,” Caldwell said. “I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. Stick defense and win games and doing what my coach asks me to do.”
The three-time SEC Freshman of the Week said she’s proud of the honors, but wants more for herself.
“It’s just an award for the week,” Ballard said. “I’m really trying to go far, like Freshman of the Year.”
