No. 18 LSU used a strong transition game to run past No. 22 Rutgers, 78-68 in the Lady Tigers’ home opener Tuesday night in the PMAC.
Doneeka Hodges led LSU (3-2) with 23 points, including three 3-pointers in the second half to help the Lady Tigers build a lead they would never give up. Hodges missed her first five 3-point attempts in the first half, but said she was in more of a rhythm in the second half.
“I was just taking shots I’ve been taking since the season started,” Hodges said. “I just had a hard time finding a way to get the ball into the basket. I just kept shooting. I was kind of excited after finally hitting a shot, and after that I just wanted to play.”
LSU coach Sue Gunter said the Lady Tigers took advantage of Rutgers’ mistakes and were able to convert them into points.
“I liked our game plan, and I think maybe for the first time all year our kids actually went out and executed it,” Gunter said. “I think we jumped out real early and got some easy transition baskets, and consequently we never lost the lead.”
Seimone Augustus added 19 points and eight rebounds, while junior forward Tillie Willis had a breakout game, pouring in 14 points and 10 rebounds. Augustus said her teammates fought hard to outrebound Rutgers, though some of the team’s top rebounders have been injured.
“I think we came out and played well in the beginning of both halves,” Augustus said. “It was a war on the boards and all the players did a great job rebounding.”
The Lady Tigers shot nearly 48 percent in the game, while holding Rutgers to 34 percent shooting. The Scarlett Knights (2-3) missed 14 of their first 15 shots and could not overcome an early deficit. LSU stretched the lead to as much as 15 points and shot 4-of-6 from 3-point range in the second half.
Rutgers guard Cappie Pondexter had 18 points to lead the team, but was 8-of-22 shooting from the field.
“Cappie’s a great player,” Augustus said. “We knew we weren’t going to stop her, so we just tried to contain her. She was the main person we tried to focus on, and I think we did a great job of that tonight.”
Hodges, who guared Pondexter most of the game, said she did not really do anything special against her defensively.
“We just wanted to make it difficult every time she shot the ball,” Hodges said.
Shalicia Hurns added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Monroe native Chelsea Newton scored 12 points in her first game in Louisiana since high school.
The Lady Tigers opened the game on a 7-0 run and controlled the pace for most of the first half. LSU led 31-24 at the half.
The Scarlett Knights cut the lead to as little as three points in the beginning of the second half, but an Augustus jumper fueled another 7-0 run and Rutgers would not get closer than eight points.
Rutgers coach Vivian Stringer, who is fourth in the all-time win list behind Gunter, said LSU wore the Rutgers players out in transition.
“It’s not really about winning or losing,” Stringer said. “I was upset with what I thought was a lack of effort by our players. We were tired and we didn’t play a very smart game.”
The team’s next game will be Dec. 13 at home against UL-Monroe at 7 p.m.