Through 16 games this season, LSU’s women’s basketball team has already eclipsed its win total from last season.
The Lady Tigers (13-3, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) will look to carry that momentum in their upcoming games against Missouri on Jan. 12 and South Carolina on Jan. 15.
LSU has also won nine of its last 10 games, and Coach Nikki Fargas said being healthy has been a key for the team this season.
“Last year, we had one sub,” Fargas said. “I like the fact we can go deep in our bench. It allows us to really go at our opponents. Everybody is doing their part, and when you can get 10 players with 10 or more minutes, it gives you different lineups, it gives you different game planning where you can go bigger and quicker and play with a smaller lineup and play a little small ball.”
The Lady Tigers are already one win away from tying their total number of SEC wins from last year as they enter their fourth conference game.
After dropping the first conference game on the road to No. 4 Mississippi State, the Lady Tigers bounced back with victories at home against the Florida Gators and a come-from-behind win to defeat Arkansas in Fayetteville.
As of late, LSU has been riding the hot hand of sophomore guard Chloe Jackson. Over the past four games, Jackson has averaged 22.5 points per game, including a 34-point explosion against Florida.
“Shots were falling,” Jackson said. “Everything was just going my way which was great and my team needed it. I was just happy I could do that for my team.”
Junior guard Raigyne Moncrief expressed the intensity Jackson has played recently.
“She’s just being aggressive,” Moncrief said. “We all know what Chloe can do. She’s a great shooter and she can attack the basket. We know what Chloe can do. She’s more confident in her shot and the ability to score the ball. We need her to be like that for the rest of the SEC and we just need to tag along behind her.”
LSU’s next test will be against Missouri who is looking for its second conference win to end a two-game slump in the SEC. Missouri has lost its last two games to Kentucky and Alabama by a combined total of three points, losing 64-62 on the road at Kentucky and a one-point loss to the Crimson Tide 59-58.
“Every game in the SEC carries a lot of weight,” Fargas said. “Even though you have South Carolina and Kentucky who are ranked, our Missouri game is going to be a tough game. We always battle with them. They’re well-coached. They’re discipline. They have players that can shoot the three.”
LSU will be looking to avenge its loss to Missouri after falling in last year’s contest 52-46.
“One opponent at a time and we’re going to stay in the moment,” Fargas said. “You don’t want to fast forward and look ahead to South Carolina. You want to put on a good performance out there for your fans.”