Temeka Johnson took the 37-point loss at Penn State last Friday personally.
“The loss to Penn State was an embarrassment to not only us but the whole LSU women’s program,” Johnson said after practice Tuesday. “I think we just have to take a step back and look at ourselves in the mirror and recognize that we all have something that we need to do better.”
Johnson had just finished doing extra wind sprints at the end of practice. She caught her breath and continued.
“If that game doesn’t motivate us to do better, then nothing will,” Johnson said.
The Lady Tigers (1-2) travel to Houston on Saturday to try to right the ship against Rice (0-2).
In the 83-46 loss to No. 9 Penn State, LSU shot only 34.6 percent from the field. Johnson led the Lady Tigers with 18 points.
Penn State shot 51.6 percent from the field and jumped out to a 16-3 lead in the first half. The Nittany Lions never looked back.
“We’ve just got a lot of things that have to be worked out,” LSU coach Sue Gunter said. “Right now, we’re not executing on either end of the floor. We’re taking it on the chin right now; it’s been tough.”
Gunter said the Lady Tigers are struggling inside. Penn State outrebounded LSU, 47-20, in the contest.
“We have to rely so much on Seimone [Augustus], Temeka and Doneeka [Hodges],” Gunter said. “Doneeka did not have a good shooting night and it puts even more pressure on [the other two].”
Augustus finished the evening with 12 points and four rebounds. Penn State held Hodges to nine points and four rebounds.
This is the last game of a four-game road trip the Lady Tigers started the regular season on. LSU beat Villanova 63-56 in the season opener, but have dropped the last two games to Oregon, 76-67, and Penn State, 83-46.
Gunter said she thinks the Lady Tigers do take the losses personally and looks forward to getting a few players back in uniform.
“Wendlyn [Jones] is going to be back in a few weeks, and so is Crystal [White],” Gunter said. “I think that will be a psychological lift for us, to see them in uniform, and knowing there’s a possibility they can give us a little bit of relief.”
Gunter said the Lady Tigers need a confidence boost, but she said teams such as Rice are out to get the Lady Tigers right now.
“Rice is a very good team,” Gunter said. “They’ve played good teams [Kent State and Arkansas]. This is their home opener. Right now, they feel we’re vulnerable. We still are ranked, but it’s a great opportunity for other teams. We’ve just got to bow our necks and stiffed up a little bit, and battle a little harder.”
LSU is 2-1 all-time against Rice. The Lady Tigers have won the last two meetings, including last season’s 72-47 victory.
The Lady Tigers start a seven-game homestand next Monday against Rutgers.
“I hate to think it’s against Rutgers,” Gunter said, “but it will still be good to be home. Trust me.”