LSU coach Pokey Chatman said prior to the No. 7 Lady Tigers’ contest with the University of South Carolina that LSU must rebound well to be successful. Apparently junior center Sylvia Fowles got Chatman’s message. Thanks to a 23-point and 20-rebound performance by Fowles, the Lady Tigers (21-3, 7-2) defeated USC (13-11, 3-6) 49-46 in a very sloppy shooting contest by LSU. LSU out-rebounded the Gamecocks, 43-33, giving the Tigers extra shots. The extra shots were welcomed with open arms because LSU only shot 27 percent for the game. Chatman said her team was fortunate to get a road victory while shooting so poorly. “The word that comes to mind is lucky,” she said. “There is no other way to put it if you shoot 27 percent from the field. We just did not display any type of discipline on both ends of the floor for an extended period of time.” The game was tied at 8 with 12 minutes to play in the first half, but a layup by junior Lakesha Tolliver gave USC an early 10-8 lead. Fowles then responded by scoring six points in a row to give LSU a 14-10 lead. Junior guard Erica White capped an 8-0 LSU run with a layup. LSU led by as many as seven points in the first half, but a run by the Gamecocks cut the LSU halftime lead to 28-25. Fowles completed her 11th-consecutive double-double in the first half, leading the Lady Tigers with 18 points and 12 rebounds in the first 20 minutes of the game. Fowles shot 7-for-9 in the first half but received little help from her teammates, who were a combined 2-21. Chatman said she partially blames herself for the team’s shooting inconsistencies. “I’m part of the problem as well,” Chatman said. “It’s my team, and we have got to find a way to be more solid for extended minutes.” LSU continued to shoot poorly in the second half, shooting under 30 percent. USC took 31-30 and 37-36 leads, but freshman guard Allison Hightower sank jump shots after both South Carolina leads to give the advantage back to the Lady Tigers. Junior guard Quianna Chaney’s first field goal of the game gave LSU a 40-37 lead with a little over nine minutes to play in the game. Chaney was 1-10 for the game, scoring only eight points and ending her streak of scoring in double figures at 13 games. USC tied the game at 41 with a basket by senior forward Iva Sliskovic, but Hightower again answered on the next possession to give LSU the two-point advantage. Senior guard Stacy Booker made the game’s only 3-pointer to cut the LSU lead to 45-44. The two teams then traded baskets, and USC had the ball with a chance to take the lead with less than 40 seconds to play. But the Tigers got a defensive stop, sending junior guard Erica White to the free throw line, where she extended the LSU lead to three with 25 seconds to play. Senior guard Lauren Simms tried to tie the game, but her 3-pointer rimmed in and out. Thomas rebounded for the Tigers with 10 seconds left in the game. Thomas could not seal the victory for LSU, missing both free throws, but senior forward Melanie Johnson’s desperation 3-point shot at the buzzer fell short, giving LSU the win. Johnson led USC with 11 points and nine rebounds. Chatman said her team will put Sunday’s contest behind them as they prepare for their next opponent. “We’re going to watch the tape, correct some things and get some individuals to get their minds focused to let them throw some things that have been bothering them,” she said.
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