The LSU women’s basketball team has a tall task ahead tonight against Vanderbilt — winning on the Commodores’ home court.
The Lady Tigers (15-8, 5-4) have not won in Nashville since Jan. 23, 2005. The Commodores (14-7, 5-3) are 11-0 at Memorial Gym this season.
“The answer to why the Nashville environment is so tough is simple,” LSU coach Van Chancellor said. The two teams square off at 7 p.m. with just a half-game separating the teams between No. 5 and No. 6 in the Southeastern Conference.
“Where the benches are is a tremendous advantage to them,” Chancellor said. “You really have no way to communicate with your players, not even on a free throw, because they can’t break that plane. Your point guard has to really have a great game … knowing when they change defenses, when they press you, where to get the ball and what to run.”
With that in mind, Chancellor said effective shooting and “playing matchup zone” will be critical for LSU. The teams split two matchups last season, as the Lady Tigers held the Commodores to 39 points — their lowest scoring output ever — but then lost in the quarterfinals of the 2010 SEC tournament, 63-61, after giving up a 12-point lead.
LSU junior forward LaSondra Barrett described Vanderbilt as a “crafty” team.
“They have a lot of players who can shoot and drive,” Barrett said. “They play a lot of guards, pretty much four perimeter post players. They do a lot of shot fakes and jab steps, so they’re very skilled.”
Vanderbilt senior guard Jence Rhoads leads the Commodores with 13.1 points per game and 4.7 assists per game. She has 497 career assists.
“It seems like Rhoads has been there all my life,” Chancellor joked.
Four other Vanderbilt players average in double figures for the No. 3 scoring offense in the SEC (72.5 points per game). Vanderbilt is also No. 2 in 3-point percentage at 35.8 percent, while LSU is No. 2 in 3-point percentage defense at 28.7 percent.
Shooting from behind the arc was an area where LSU struggled mightily against Georgia, converting just 2-of-21 for the game and 0-for-15 in the second half.
“That’s a stat I can’t get over,” Chancellor said. “We had a little John Wayne in us. We found true grit. We had a little toughness about us and found a way to win.”
LSU junior forward Courtney Jones was a significant factor in the Georgia victory with 8 points and nine rebounds. Her prior average entering the game was 4.9 points and 2.9 boards.
Chancellor said LSU will have a better chance of beating Vanderbilt if Jones can continue her production.
“You ever open up a Coca Cola out in the hot when you’re in the country, out in the summertime when you open it up it kind of spews?” Chancellor said. “All that little stuff coming out, that’s what Courtney Jones gave us [against Georgia]. Her points and rebounds and her defense were good, but it’s her spirit — she made Barrett and [senior guard Katherine Graham] play a little harder.”
 
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Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]