The LSU women’s basketball team let a seven-point lead slip away with 1:33 remaining in regulation and stumbled in overtime to lose to Auburn, 64-62, in the 14th annual Pack the PMAC game Sunday afternoon.More than 5,000 fans watched the Lady Tigers (13-2, 2-1 SEC) sustain their first Southeastern conference loss of the young season in thrilling fashion.Auburn (10-6, 1-2) was up by one point with 13 seconds left in overtime when LSU junior point guard Latear Eason missed a jumper.The Lady Tigers were forced to foul Auburn freshman guard Morgan Toles. Toles missed her second free throw, and LSU recovered possession with 12 seconds left and down by two points.Sophomore guard Destini Hughes drove into the lane and missed a potential game-tying layup as Auburn escaped in overtime with their first SEC victory.”That was the play we called,” said LSU coach Van Chancellor. “I didn’t think they could guard her. We spread the floor and got a wide open layup.”Auburn rebounded from a double overtime loss to Florida on Thursday with the victory on Sunday.”It’s a lot more fun to win an overtime game than to lose one,” said Auburn coach Nell Fortner. “To be able to come here and win one in overtime is really special.”LSU had its chance to seal the deal before overtime.The Lady Tigers were up, 57-50, with 1:33 left in the game. But LSU gave up three Auburn layups that shrunk its lead to one point.LSU junior guard Katherine Graham nailed two free throws with 14 seconds remaining to put the Lady Tigers up by three. But Auburn junior guard Alli Smalley knotted up the game, 59-59, with a 3-pointer with three seconds to play.LSU senior guard Allison Hightower’s desperation shot hit to the right of the basket as time expired, and the game moved to overtime.”That was a big-time shot,” Fortner said. “I was hoping she’d be a little more open, but she zeroed in on that shot.”Auburn senior center KeKe Carrier was a force down low, accounting for 17 points and six rebounds.”We thought [Carrier] would do about what she did,” Chancellor said. “That wasn’t what beat us.”Sophomore forward LaSondra Barrett took over scoring duties for the Lady Tigers. She was the only LSU player to score in double figures, tying her career high with 27 points.”I felt we had mismatches, especially when they put Carrier guarding me,” Barrett said. “The coaches really told me to get in the gaps of the zone. I felt pretty good shooting the ball tonight.”Hightower suffered from leg cramps but still played 36 minutes and scored nine points.Auburn’s interior defense stifled the Lady Tigers’ offense in the first half. LSU went 26.7 percent from the field while shooting 0-of-5 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes. Auburn led 22-18 at halftime.The Lady Tigers picked up steam in the second half and led most of the period. A late Auburn rally forced the overtime, but LSU couldn’t come up with the game-tying layup.”This is one of the toughest regular reason losses I have ever been through,” Chancellor said. “I thought we had it won at one time. It isn’t anyone’s fault but a coach.”LSU has a week off before traveling to Ole Miss to face the Lady Rebels at 2 pm. on Jan. 17.- – – -Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]
Women’s Basketball: Auburn beats LSU, 64-62, in overtime for SEC home opener — 5:47 p.m.
January 10, 2010