A loss to Nebraska spoiled a stellar 9-0 start for the LSU women’s basketball team in the 2009-10 season.But two consecutive losses hit the Lady Tigers where it hurts — the Southeastern Conference Western standings.No. 12 LSU (13-3, 2-2) lost its second straight SEC game Sunday afternoon against Ole Miss, 80-71.LSU coach Van Chancellor’s squad allowed Ole Miss senior guard Bianca Thomas, the SEC’s leading scorer, to rack up 42 points on the usually staunch Lady Tiger defense.”She made shot after shot,” Chancellor said after the game. “We had no answer for her.”LSU sophomore forward LaSondra Barrett tried to duel Thomas with 30 points and 10 rebounds of her own, but the Lady Tigers could not keep up with Ole Miss.The Rebels shot 51 percent from the floor and were 9-of-18 from 3-point range.The second consecutive conference loss came on the heels of the most exciting game of LSU’s season.  Auburn entered the PMAC on Jan. 10 and provided quite the thrill for the more than 5,000 fans in attendance at the 14th annual Pack the PMAC game. Auburn shocked LSU, 64-62, in overtime after a game-tying layup by LSU sophomore guard Destini Hughes fell short.LSU was up by seven points with 1:33 left in regulation, but Auburn junior guard Alli Smalley hit a 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds remaining to force the overtime.”The loss illustrated some situations I thought we had way back in December,” Chancellor said. “We have to get a lead and hold on to it.”LSU has focused on reducing mental errors in practices since the Auburn game.”There are some areas we need to improve on,” said senior guard Allison Hightower. “Sometimes we take big steps forward, but then we take big steps backward.”Hightower has endured leg cramps from time to time this season, but the preseason All-American said she hasn’t been affected by the cramps.Barrett has filled the shoes of Hightower in the scoring department, while sophomore guard Latear Eason has progressed from the point guard position. Chancellor was happy with his team’s performance until the loss against Auburn.The first two conference games were more successful for the Lady Tigers.LSU opened SEC play at South Carolina, where the Lady Tigers took their first conference win, 70-58. A 15-0 second-half surge propelled LSU past Arkansas, 65-38, on Jan. 7. The Lady Tigers outscored Arkansas, 46-19, with a team effort in the second half as four LSU players scored in double figures.LSU was rolling before SEC play began. The Lady Tigers cruised through their first games during the break, taking care of business against New Orleans, Houston Baptist and North Carolina A&T.LSU won the inaugural Sue Gunter Classic with a victory against North Carolina A&T, 75-33. Hightower was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player as she chipped in 12 points in the championship game.The next foe, No. 18 Nebraska, presented a different challenge for the Lady Tigers. Nebraska senior forward Kelsey Griffin burned LSU for a game-high 30 points and 14 rebounds as the Lady Tigers fell, 77-63, and endured their first loss of the season.LSU got back to its winning ways against Southeastern on Dec. 22 in the PMAC. The Lady Tigers held Southeastern to 27 points while Barrett recorded her first double-double of the season, lighting up the Lady Lions for 11 points and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes.The climax of LSU’s winter break came on Dec. 30 when the Lady Tigers faced No. 13 Xavier. Chancellor picked up his 500th win of his collegiate coaching career as LSU clinched a quality victory against Xavier, 56-47.”We told our team we had to return to the Lady Tiger way,” Chancellor said. “We learned a lot from the loss at Nebraska. That was an absolute wake-up call.” Junior guard Katherine Graham’s career-high 14 points helped Chancellor reach the 500-win milestone.LSU has also announced that it will retire the jersey of former Lady Tiger Seimone Augustus, who played at LSU from 2002-06 and is second in school history with 2,702 points. Her jersey will be retired in a ceremony right before LSU plays Tennessee on Sunday in the PMAC.LSU has also announced it will retired the jersey of former Lady Tiger Seimone Augustus, who play at LSU from 2002-06 and is second in school history with 2,702 points. Her jersey will be retired Sunday in a ceremony before the Tennessee game in the PMAC.——Contact Micheal Lambert at [email protected]