The LSU women’s basketball team dismissed the Houston Jaguars, 90-45, in its final tune up before the Nov. 22 season opener on the road against Arizona.
Ranked as high as No. 3 in various preseason polls, LSU used a 21-0 run midway through the first half to distance itself and take a commanding 48-18 advantage at the half.
Highly-touted freshman guard/forward Seimone Augustus led LSU in both points and rebounds with 17 and eight, respectively. The Baton Rouge native also played a team-high 28 minutes and was 8-of-14 from the field.
LSU shot 50 percent for the game and held Houston to just under 31 percent from the field, including only 18 percent from beyond the three-point arch.
“I thought Seimone played well,” said head coach Sue Gunter. “She shot well tonight. Her stroke was good. She needs the minutes; she needs to play.”
Augustus who has a routine of eating a Twix bar before every game, made sure she did not break the trend.
“I had my Twix today,” she said. “I felt more comfortable tonight.”
The Hodges twins, Doneeka and Roneeka each had 14 points on the night. Forward Aiysha Smith also chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds.
“We’re just not where we need to be,” Gunter said. “This time next week we’ll be in Tucson [Arizona] waiting to play a good Arizona team. I’m certainly not down, though.
“We have a long way to go, but we’re 0-0. We we’re not real pleased with the execution.”
Despite Gunter saying the zone trap was not where it needed to be, the Tigers used their athleticism to force 23 turnovers out of the Jaguars and had 15 steals. LSU also outrebounded Houston 47-31 in the contest.
Point guard Temeka Johnson dished out a team-leading eight assists. Johnson said the players on the team are still trying to get adjusted to playing with each other on the court.
“The chemistry is there off the court,” Johnson said. “On the court, it’s not where it needs to be.”
Gunter said better practice performances could lead to better game-time performances, something she stresses will be needed when the Tigers visit the Lady Wildcats next week.
“It’s all there, but we haven’t played enough for it to come together,” Gunter said. “You want to be in midseason form, but you can’t be. I really like the attitude of the kids. We played like we practiced. We weren’t intense or aggressive.”
Senior point guard Kisha James who is coming off of a knee injury last year said the Tigers need to improve if they are to be considered in the elite of women’s college basketball.
“This is the year for us,” James said. “We’re more experienced. I just think we’re going to have to start practicing better. Then we can say we’re the No. 3 team in the country.”