Aiysha Smith and the other seniors on the women’s basketball team will play the final home game of their career tonight against Southeastern Conference foe Arkansas.
“I haven’t really thought about it, so I guess tomorrow when it comes it will actually hit me,” Smith said. “I think it’ll be OK.”
The No. 4 Lady Tigers (23-2, 10-2 SEC) come off a tough loss to the No. 3 Tennessee Lady Vols last Sunday, 68-65. In the game, LSU squandered an eight-point lead in the second half and was unable to get off a successful shot in the finals moments of the contest.
Tonight the Lady Tigers try to rebound as they host Arkansas in a rematch of a game earlier this season in which the Lady Razorbacks handed the Lady Tigers their first loss of the season with an 82-72 victory in Fayetteville, Ark.
The Lady Tigers lead the all-time series 11-8, but Arkansas has won the past two contests.
Following that victory against LSU on Jan. 19, Arkansas rolled out to a 3-0 start in SEC play. The Lady Razorbacks were ranked No. 8 in the nation and were 16-2 overall.
Since that game, it has been a different story for Arkansas. The Lady Razorbacks (19-8, 6-6 SEC) have dropped six of nine SEC contests and slipped from the No. 8 national ranking to No. 19.
LSU head coach Sue Gunter said she realizes how important this game is for the Lady Razorbacks.
“I think we’ve kind of taken two different routes since we played in Fayetteville,” Gunter said. “It’s a huge game for them for a lot of reasons.”
Gunter said she also knows how important a game this is for the Lady Tigers, who are trying to secure the No. 2 seed for the SEC tournament.
“It’s equally as huge for us because now we’re trying to at least hold on to a No. 2 seed in the SEC,” she said. “And really if we can handle our business and do a good job, we’ve still got a chance at a very high seed in the NCAA. So it’s one of those games where the drama builds, and it’s really big for both of us.”
Game time is set for 7 p.m tonight at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Gunter said it promises to be a special night for the women’s basketball team and the seniors that are a part of the team.
“It’s nostalgic, and it’s a little sad but yet there’s an air of happiness,” Gunter said. “We’re blessed to have had them here, and so we feel good about that.”