The LSU Women’s Basketball team had a full week to rest, recover and prepare to take on the Rajin’ Cajuns in the PMAC Sunday. The Lady Tigers’ offensive struggles were apparent in the first half where Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Willaims combined for 7 points. As a whole, the offense struggled as the team made just one three-point shot toward the end of the game.
“In the first half, I thought we did a nice job of defending them, but we were atrocious offensively with 17 turnovers,” LSU Assistant Head Coach, Bob Starkey said.“That’s not to take anything away from Louisiana because I thought their kids played hard and they’re a well-coached team, but it was just very sloppy.”
Head Coach Kim Mulkey felt under the weather after the game, so Coach Starkey filled in for her at the press conference.
Jersey Wolfenbarger was a bright spot for the team finishing the game with 18 points and 15 rebounds in her first start as a Tiger.
“My approach to every game is the exact same,” Wolfenbarger said. “I think today just understanding that my role is going to be a little different starting, I had to start quick, I had to start strong, I had to do the little things.”
“I think that’s why coaches are beginning to trust me and give me more opportunities,” Wolfenbarger said.
While Wolfenbarger provided the leadership the team needed to win this game; the question remains if the team can stay consistent throughout the season.
“I think we have a void at leadership and when you do that could affect your team’s chemistry,” Starkey said. “We have certain players that want to lead at certain times and that’s another area where we’re not consistent.”
Although the Lady Tigers did not play as well as they expected, they did come out Victorious with an 85-57 win against ULL with the help of their 37 defensive rebounds, but their schedule only gets tougher from here.
“This is a really difficult stretch, we are getting ready to play three games in five days in three different time zones,” Starkey said. “We were Central and then we are going to go Eastern, then we’re gonna go back to Central.”
The Tigers will now focus on finding some consistent leadership while maintaining their strength at defense. The team will head to Connecticut to take on Seton Hall and then Chicago where they will take on Illinois-Chicago in their last two games before Christmas.
