The LSU Lady Tigers are averaging 76 points per game this season.
Six minutes into their game against Arkansas, they had exactly two.
Senior Seimone Augustus’ 26 points helped LSU (23-2, 11-1) overcome a slow start Sunday and defeat Arkansas (13-12, 5-7) 64-42 in the PMAC.
LSU began the game with seven turnovers in the first nine minutes of the game.
“I was extremely frustrated,” said LSU coach Pokey Chatman of the first half start. “It’s a matter of focusing and channeling that energy and making every possession your masterpiece and that was frustrating because we were slow in doing that.”
Down 7-2 with 13:15 remaining, Augustus said she began to get more aggressive.
“I looked for my drive more,” senior Seimone Augustus said. “It was kind of tough to get Sylvia [Fowles] the ball because they were stepping back, so it opened up more for me to drive and get buckets.”
While the Lady Backs were being held scoreless for nearly nine minutes, Augustus scored 15 first half points.
Her 26 points in only 25 minutes of action, pushed her pass former Lady Tiger Cornelia Gayden for third on LSU’s career scoring list.
“She was on her game tonight and pretty much unstoppable,” said Arkansas coach Susie Gardner of Augustus. “I compare Seimone to J.J. Redick. Everybody is going to play Seimone and J.J. with their best defense and best defender, but they are still going to score their points.”
Defensively the Lady Tigers No. 1 ranked scoring defense held Arkansas to a season-low 14 first half points, and used a 17-0 run to take a 27-14 halftime lead.
“They are known for their offense, but they played very good defense,” Gardner said. “We’ve started the past couple of games like that, but their defense played a big role in this one.”
The defensive pressure continued into the second half as LSU forced two quick turnovers and had a 9-2 run to start the half.
LSU finished the game outscoring Arkansas 37-28 in the second half, and held the Lady Backs to only 26 percent shooting from the field.
The Lady Tigers can clinch the Southeasetern Conference regular season title Thursday when they travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama.
 
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