The LSU women’s basketball team scored its lowest points total this season when the team contested against Kentucky on Thursday night in the PMAC, 55-42.
The Lady Tigers recorded their second straight loss after falling to No. 5 South Carolina on Jan. 12.
“When you just look at our team, we don’t have the consistency that we need,” coach Nikki Fargas said. “There was a lot of things that were there for us to really capitalize on and we didn’t. We talked about not allowing our offense to dictate how hard we play defensively and that affected us.”
Kentucky went on a 12-0 run in the first quarter. LSU’s first two baskets came from sophomore guard Chloe Jackson.
The Lady Tigers struggled both offensively and defensively.
LSU shot 23 percent of its field goals, 3-of-13, against Kentucky’s 58.3 percent. Kentucky also outrebounded LSU 11 to five in the first.
Kentucky lead the game as the first quarter ended with a score of 17-6.
LSU’s shooting percentage increased to 38 percent as they outscored the Wildcats in the second quarter. However, the Lady Tigers still trailed by five points at the end of the half, 23-16.
“We were down seven,” senior guard Jasmine Rhodes said. “We were definitely still in it so we definitely had a comeback and a fight in us to win the game. That was our mindset coming out of the half.”
LSU defensive woes continued as the third quarter ensued. Kentucky won the defensive boards over LSU, 38-23, while also outscoring LSU in the third.
The Lady Tigers’ leading scorers, Jackson and junior guard Raigyne Moncrief combined for 28 points from the field. Jackson made an additional two baskets at the charity line, but her efforts were overshadowed by Kentucky’s leading scorers, Evelyn Akhator and Taylor Murray.
Kentucky came out on top in the third quarter with an ending score of 42-26.
With spirits low, efforts were still high. LSU was able to decrease Kentucky’s lead by 10. However, Kentucky gained a victory and ended the game with a score of 55-42.
“We didn’t start off right,” Moncrief said. “We didn’t start off defensively how we were supposed to and they came out hot … We can fight but we let it get out of hand too early.We shouldn’t have been down in the first place.”
