After starting conference play with a shocking victory over Tennessee, the LSU women’s basketball team [12-2, 1-0 Southeastern Conference] will try to continue recent success as the take on the Texas A&M Aggies [11-4, 1-0] at Pete Maravich Assembly Center Thursday night at 6 p.m.
The win over Tennessee was the first against the Lady Volunteers since 2009, snapping a six game losing streak. Senior forward Therese Plaisance said the win was an accomplishment of a goal she dreamed since joining the team.
“Coming here as a freshman, you always dream about going to Tennessee and winning at such a great venue,” Plaisance said. “The only thing I think I could compare it to is our Penn St. win [last season].”
LSU followed up that win with a 63-35 victory over Tulane at Devlin Fieldhouse Sunday afternoon. The 35 points allowed were the lowest LSU has allowed since 2011, and the win put the Lady Tigers at 12-2 with only conference games left to play.
One of the key factors to LSU’s recent accomplishments has been behind the three point line, particularly senior guard Jeanne Kenney. Kenney has made 12 threes in her last three games, including a 6-7 performance against Jackson St. on Dec. 30.
Kenney credits her focus to the game as the reason for the surge in threes.
“With a shooter’s mindset, you have to think of the next play no matter what happens …it’s much easier said than done,” Kenney said. “But once you get in that rhythm, it becomes automatic.”
Texas A&M comes into the game 11-4 after playing a non-conference schedule full of quality opponents, such as Texas and Penn St. The Aggies’ offense is well-rounded, with three different players averaging more than 10 points a game for the season.
Head coach Nikki Caldwell said ball security would be one of the key components to a LSU win.
“They [A&M] are very explosive in the open court, so taking care of the basketball is going to be key,” Caldwell said. “Defensively, they can really get after you and turn you over, and they like to get in the passing lanes as well.”
The game will be the Lady Tigers’ first SEC home game, and second SEC game overall. The conference has been blessed with talent this season, with four teams in the top 12 of the latest AP poll.
With the victory against Tennessee, the Lady Tigers’ chance of winning the SEC regular season has risen immensely. But, as Kenney said, there is always room for improvement.
“Peaking, at this point, I don’t think we are there whatsoever,” Kenney said. “We still have a lot of stuff to work on defensively and offensively …the momentum we are taking in, going into our next SEC game, we are sitting right where we want to be right now.”
Contact Tommy Romanach at [email protected]