Seniors Ke-Ke Tardy and Kisha James both capped off solid careers in their final home game on Senior Night at the PMAC as LSU used a 24-4 second half run Thursday night to put away a pesky No. 21 Arkansas Lady Razorbacks (19-9, 6-7) team, 70-57.
Tardy scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds to help No. 4 LSU (24-2, 11-2) clinch the No. 2 seed in next week’s Southeastern Conference tournament.
Freshman Seimone Augustus led the Lady Tigers in scoring and tallied a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The point guard combination of Temeka Johnson and James scored 10 and nine points, respectively. James also had three key assists in as many consecutive possessions to Augustus in the second half to help LSU to a 17-0 run.
The 11 SEC wins for the Lady Tigers ties a school record, and the 24 regular season wins is the most since the 1977-78 season.
“I’m not going to say it wasn’t sweet, but it was an SEC win,” Tardy said. “Here on out we have to play each game like it’s our last. We have to look forward to the next game.”
“I looked upon myself to get involved offensively. Personally, it was good to leave the court playing to the best of my ability.”
It was LSU’s defense that was particularly stifling. LSU held Arkansas to under 38 percent for the contest and held Shameka Christon, a Naismith Award candidate, to just five points.
India Lewis scored 18 to lead the way for Arkansas. Nine of those points came in the final two minutes for Lewis. Head coach Sue Gunter said guard Doneeka Hodges marked up on Lewis, a solid three-point shooter, well.
“Defensively, we did a good job,” Gunter said. “Doneeka Hodges did a great job on Lewis. We put a lot of pressure on the ball, and it was the difference.”
Lewis said Hodges made it tough to get a good look.
“She was following me everywhere,” Lewis said. “She was chasing me around the entire time.”
Arkansas head coach Gary Blair said in the first seven minutes of the game the Lady ‘Backs were unable to capitalize on solid shot attempts, and it cost them in the end.
“We had to bleed for shots,” Blair said. “The first play of the second half was key for us. We got an easy basket, and we were on our way. But they attacked our zone in the second half.”
On the other hand, James, who struggled with two torn knee ligaments in her five-year career, reflected on her time in Baton Rouge.
“It’s been a long five years,” James said. “Nothing went right for me [part of my career]. Last night it was hard to study while thinking about this game.”
Gunter said James’ effort did not surprise her and said she brought a lot of energy to the game in a critical second half. It was Blair that gave James the most credit.
“Give that kid a lot of credit,” Blair said. “She hurt us. We didn’t think she was going to hurt us like she did.”
The senior class of James, Tardy, Aiysha Smith, DeTrina White and Patty Hanten hope LSU’s run toward a national title does not stop anytime soon.