NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — LSU outlasted Arkansas in the second round of the SEC tournament game and rubber match between the two teams, with the fifth-ranked Lady Tigers holding on for a 78-72 win in ALLTEL Arena.
LSU (25-3) led throughout most of the game, but Arkansas continued to battle and keep the contest close. When the Lady Backs took their first lead, 70-69, with 3:29 to play in the game, the home-state crowd erupted.
But the lead only would last 24 seconds, as point guard Temeka Johnson hit a jumper from the top of the key, then Doneeka Hodges buried a 3-pointer to put the Lady Tigers on top for good.
“That’s what we practice for, it’s why we wake up at 6 a.m.,” Hodges said of the hostile Arkansas crowd.
Arkansas (21-10) had a chance to tie the game with 23 seconds left and LSU up, 74-72. But guard India Lewis missed the front end of a one-and one and the Lady Tigers grabbed the rebound and the win.
“It wears on you a little bit,” Lewis said of having to come from behind. “But we felt like we were right in there and were always just a shot away.”
Freshman Seimone Augustus led all scorers with 22 points while Johnson had 15 points and Hodges 11 points.
Augustus said she does not feel like a freshman anymore, after playing a full slate of games.
LSU head coach Sue Gunter said her team took it to Arkansas throughout the game, and it was able to dig in and hold off the rally late in the game.
“Good players made big plays tonight,” Gunter said. “It was like two heavyweights going at it.”
Arkansas head coach Gary Blair said he thought his team had a chance to win after it took the lead, but it never quite got there. He said Augustus was the difference maker.
“Seimone Augustus took over the game,” Blair said. “Not many freshman can take over a game of this magnitude.”
Despite Shameka Christon’s 33 points, Arkansas could not overtake the Lady Tigers down the stretch. LSU shot 50 percent from the field and attacked the Arkansas zone and converted 25-of-31 free throws.
“I thought the zone defense was the best [defense to play],” Blair said. “But they just kept hitting shots.”