For three quarters, the LSU women’s basketball team stayed close with No. 2 seed Mississippi State in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
However, a late surge in the fourth quarter allowed the Bulldogs to break away, knocking the Lady Tigers (20-11, 8-9 SEC) out of the quarterfinal round of the SEC Tournament.
The Lady Tigers ended the third quarter only trailing by four points and kept the game close throughout the fourth quarter. But a 33-point fourth quarter helped push Mississippi State past LSU.
“I don’t think our kids played scared or not to lose,” LSU coach Nikki Fargas said in a press release. “I think we had some great opportunities, but down the stretch, we fell short but we are going to learn from this and we are going to get better. I can’t say enough about the play of our team, stepping up in this hostile environment and competing at a high level.”
The loss comes after LSU defeated Ole Miss, 65-49, on Thursday in the start of the tournament.
The Lady Tigers’ leading scorer, junior guard Raigyne Moncrief notched a season-high 25 points but her efforts did not overpower the Bulldogs.
Mississippi State stopped LSU’s defensive force, the driving nature of the team this season. LSU, known for turning teams over this season, only forced MSU to turnover 12 times.
LSU leads the SEC in steals and averages 12.1 steals per game, but the Lady Tigers only managed two. Mississippi State also outrebounded LSU 29-20.
Mississippi State took the first quarter, 21-15 but the Lady Tigers were hot on their trail in the second and were able to tie the game at 23.
Eventually, the Bulldogs pulled out and went into the half with a one-point lead, 30-29.
The Lady Tigers refused to give up. LSU gained a lead in the third quarter with consecutive baskets by Moncrief. However, the Bulldogs regained the lead and ended the quarter, 45-41.
The Lady Tigers were however able to keep Mississippi State’s leading scorer Victoria Vivians, off her scoring average by holding her to five points. Vivians entered the contest averaging 17.2 points per game.
“I am extremely proud of the LSU Tigers,” Fargas said. “I thought we came here with the mindset of really competing against some of the best players, not only in our conference, but in the country. We fell short of our goal today, but for the most part, our fight and our determination to win today was there.”
Now, the NCAA tournament awaits for the Lady Tigers, who are currently projected as an eight seed in ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme’s latest bracket.
The NCAA selection show will air on ESPN on March 13 at 6 p.m.
