The LSU women’s basketball team is gaining momentum for its remaining conference schedule.
LSU (14-9, 8-3 Southeastern Conference) has won four-straight SEC games and five-consecutive home matchups. The Lady Tigers have positioned themselves at No. 3 in the conference rankings and are only 2.5 games out of first place.
The Lady Tigers’ last loss was to then-No.5 Tennessee on Jan. 22, which has yet to lose a SEC game. They are also the No. 1 team in the NCAA’s Rating Percentage Index, a number used to rank teams based on wins and losses as well as strength of schedule.
LSU coach Nikki Caldwell said she is happy with her team and what it accomplished so far.
“We’re excited about where we’re at right now in the halfway point of the season,” Caldwell said. “We played a tough first half of opponents — Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Mississippi State ,and the list keeps going. We’re in a position right now to really make a statement, and not only for us within the conference, but also for the NCAA and getting into the tournament.”
Caldwell said this is a different squad than she saw in December and early January. Her team’s mental toughness and selflessness contribute to the great defensive play her players exhibit.
LSU enacted a full-court press zone in their defensive scheme, which smothered teams and prevents them from getting the ball across the half-court line, allowing the Lady Tigers offense to get set early in the shot clock.
During the Lady Tigers’ four-game win streak, they have allowed 48.5 points per game and held SEC rival Alabama to less than 40 points on Sunday in the PMAC.
Senior forward Sheila Boykin said she feels good about where she and her teammates are, especially defensively, but added there is always room to upgrade.
“I feel like we have gotten over that hump,” Boykin said. “But at the same time, there are more games to be played. There is more improvement that we need to make.
“I’m just glad that we’re heading into the right direction.”
LSU received eight votes in the most recent AP Poll. Even though the Lady Tigers have a better conference record, have beaten the same number of ranked teams and are three spots ahead of Georgia in the SEC standings, the Lady Bulldogs are ranked No. 24 in the country.
LSU will try to continue their winning streak on the road against No. 1 South Carolina for their second matchup of the season with the top-ranked school. LSU lost the previous matchup in the PMAC, which was its last home loss. The Lady Tigers also face Georgia on Feb. 19 in the PMAC.
Caldwell said she understands the level the Lady Tigers will have to play at during the next few weeks for them to accomplish their goals, regardless of what they have accomplished.
“As someone who has been in this league as a player and as a coach 14 years in the conference, I know you can’t celebrate — you can’t be happy,” Caldwell said. “You have to be humble and in tune with how competitive this conference is. As we all know, it takes just one game. We want to make sure that we’re not celebrating too early because there’s so much more basketball to be played.”
You can reach Stanton Vignes on Twitter @StanVignes_TDR.