Chalk up another balanced win for the LSU women’s basketball team.
All 12 players who dressed out for the Lady Tigers scored for the second straight game, and No. 5 LSU (9-0) breezed past North Carolina A&T (4-5), 75-33, to win the inaugural Sue Gunter Classic in the PMAC in dominating fashion.
Louisiana-Lafayette beat Houston Baptist, 86-76, in the consolation game of the Sue Gunter Classic earlier in the day.
LSU outscored its opponents, 168-64, in both of its games in the tournament.
“To win the first-ever Sue Gunter tournament is great,” said LSU coach Van Chancellor. “To win it like we did is super. Anytime you can win by 42 points and play [just about] everybody 12 minutes is pretty good.”
LSU gave NC A&T a dose of extreme defense in the first half. The Lady Tigers limited the Aggies to 10 points in the frame, two of which came in the last seconds.
NC A&T only made 3-of-25 shots in the first half and 10-of-49 for the game. The Aggies also committed 23 turnovers, compared to three assists.
LSU has given up 97 points in its last three games after giving up 65 and 74 points against Tulane and Louisiana Tech, respectively.
Chancellor said his team simply went back to the “old Lady Tiger way” by putting a high emphasis on defense in practice.
“I don’t think it hurt that we spent nine practices practicing nothing but defense,” he said. “I told our staff it’d be a great three games — Sunday, Monday and Tuesday — if we didn’t give up 100 points. I never dreamed we’d do that.”
It almost looked like the game would be close in the first half. NC A&T made the score 10-4 on a pair of free throws by sophomore guard/forward Crystal Murdaugh.
And then came the run of the night.
LSU went on a 20-0 run after those free throws, with six Lady Tigers scoring in the run.
“The coaches have been expecting a lot out of our bench and just when they’re put in for us to keep up our intensity and energy and the level that we play,” said LSU sophomore forward LaSondra Barrett. “A couple of people stepped up, and it just shows how balanced our team can be.”
NC A&T pulled out a decent 5-0 run in the first couple minutes of the second half. But LSU counteracted, pushing its lead to 30 roughly three minutes later.
While every LSU player who dressed out scored, only two Lady Tigers scored in double figures — senior guard Allison Hightower and sophomore forward LaSondra Barrett.
Both Barrett and Hightower, along with LSU sophomore Taylor Turnbow, made the all-tournament team. Hightower was named tournament MVP after scoring 22 points in two games.
“It feels good,” Hightower said about her award. “It’s good to get it, but I don’t really look at individual stats. I’m just glad we got the win.”
LSU also pulled out an efficient offensive game against North Carolina A&T. The Lady Tigers collected 17 assists while only committing nine turnovers.
LSU travels to Lincoln, Neb., to face Nebraska on Sunday.- – – -Contact Robert Stewart at [email protected]