The last time LSU trailed in a game the calendar still read 2007 and the Tigers’ football team was 10 days away from playing in the BCS National Championship.
The Lady Tigers have pounced on opponents from the opening tip, leading start-to-finish in six straight games.
Thanks in part to streaky shooting and smothering defense, LSU has soared to a 5-0 Southeastern Conference record and has outscored its opponents 191-86 in the first halves of SEC games.
“Having a fast start helps us a lot because we could rotate more players in,” said senior guard RaShonta LeBlanc. “We need to stay fresh in a close game, so that helps out a lot.”
The Lady Tigers have come out of the gate red-hot during the conference season, shooting more than 53 percent from the field and 46 percent from behind the arc in the first halves of SEC games.
LSU has also stifled opponents on the defensive end, holding opponents to less than 32 percent shooting in conference play.
The Lady Tigers are the only SEC team that has not given up 60 points in any conference game this season.
LSU coach Van Chancellor said the Lady Tigers are the fastest starting team he has ever coached.
“Never in my life have I seen a team that gets out of the gate this quick,” Chancellor said.
Chancellor said LSU’s next challenge is responding in a game when they do not deliver an opening-minute blow to its opponent. “Big Syl” to be Put to the Test:
Senior center Sylvia Fowles has dominated opponents throughout her career, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.
The Miami native has been equally good this season, averaging 17 points and nine rebounds per game despite a left knee injury that sidelined her for two weeks in December.
Fowles recorded her 72nd career double-double Sunday, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead LSU to a 72-46 win against Kentucky.
Teams have used double and triple teams to try to limit Fowles’ scoring, but LeBlanc and senior forward Quianna Chaney have answered by shooting 50 percent from the 3-point line in the past three games.
“You have to pick your poison,” Fowles said. “Teams can either sag down with two or three defenders on me and get beat on the outside, or they can pick the other poison and get beat on the inside.”
The 6-foot-6-inch, All-American will be tested heavily in the coming weeks with No. 1 Connecticut, No. 2 Tennessee and No. 14 Georgia still on LSU’s schedule.
Junior forward and reigning Wooden Award winner Candace arker figures to go toe-to-toe with Fowles.
Parker leads the Lady Vols averaging more than 20 points per game this season.
Senior center Tasha Humphrey leads the Bulldogs with 17 points and nine rebounds per game.
Humphrey and Fowles are set to battle Feb. 10. The Athletic Department encourages fans to wear pink when the Lady Tigers take on Georgia to raise breast cancer awareness.
The 700 Club:
With Sunday’s win against the Wildcats, the Lady Tigers recorded the 700th win in the history of the program.
LSU joins Tennessee, Georgia and Auburn as the only SEC schools to win 700 games.
Chancellor said the accomplishment shows LSU is one of the elite programs in the country.
“Any time a program has been established enough like LSU to get 700 wins, that’s really big,” Chancellor said. “I don’t care who you are or where you play, but that number is really nice.”