LSU remembers Shameka Christon.
The Southeastern Conference’s leading scorer dropped 27 points on the Lady Tigers in Fayetteville, Ark. earlier this season.
But LSU won the Jan. 22 game against the Lady ‘Backs behind a strong second-half run, 73-65.
Trailing by 16 points with less than 20 minutes to play, the Lady Tigers’ defense contained Christon to 11 second-half points. Christon’s counterpart, LSU guard Seimone Augustus, blew up with 22 points — 20 of those during the second-half push.
LSU’s adjustments against Christon included going man-to-man against her with senior Doneeka Hodges.
“I think she’s a great player, she’s shown that over the years during her career at Arkansas,” Hodges said.
As for Thursday night, Hodges said the focus is again on containing Christon.
“I don’t think we’re going to try to come out and shut her out, just try to limit her touches,” Hodges said. “If we can do that, I think we’re going to be OK.”
Arkansas (14-7, 3-5 SEC) has lost four-of-five games but is coming off a victory against Georgia, 71-63. Christon scored 28 points in the victory, earning SEC co-player of the week honors for the second time this season.
For the season, Christon averages 21.9 points per game.
Associate coach Pokey Chatman said she compares Christon’s presence on the Arkansas’ team to the head of a snake. She said she always tells the Lady Tigers about cutting the head off the snake.
“I think every team in the conference tries to put an emphasis on her,” Chatman said. “But she is still leading the league in scoring.”
No. 16 LSU (18-4, 6-2 SEC) is coming off a 68-50 loss at Auburn last Sunday in which the Lady Tigers shot 31 percent from the field.
Chatman said even with the challenge of guarding Christon, the team’s main goal is to get back into the win column.
“Every time Arkansas comes to town or we go there, we always have a battle,” Chatman said. “If nothing else, we can forget about the comeback victory we had down there in Fayetteville and just focus on how they’re playing right now.”
This is only the Lady Tigers’ second home game in the last seven contests.
LSU will get its second chance to achieve coach Sue Gunter’s 700th career victory. Gunter would join the likes of Tennessee’s Pat Summit and Texas’ Jody Conradt as the only women’s basketball coaches to win 700 games. Whether or not Gunter will be on the sideline for Thursday night’s game is a gameday decision.
Thursday night’s game also gives LSU the opportunity to win its 300th game in the PMAC. LSU is 299-85 all-time at home and has won 12 straight contests in the friendly confines of the PMAC.
LSU guard Temeka Johnson said it is time for the Lady Tigers to get a little home-court momentum of their own, after suffering road defeats to Georgia and Auburn.
“We have to have the momentum and I think it needs to start on our court,” Johnson said. “It’s good for us to be home. We need this win.”