The No. 22 LSU women’s basketball team will carry a six-game winning streak into Duluth, Ga., on Thursday when it takes on Auburn in its opening game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

Sixth-seeded LSU’s (19-10, 10-6 SEC) winning streak is the league’s current best and a season best, but they are looking at its match with No. 11 seed Auburn (16-13, 5-11 SEC) as the start of a new season.

“Just going in and knowing that we’re a top team is a great feeling,” said LSU junior guard Jeanne Kenney. “We are also still the underdogs, and we love being the underdogs.”

LSU jumped into the national spotlight since its win streak despite playing with a roster of only eight players.

LSU coach Nikki Caldwell said the shallow roster has become somewhat of a rallying cry for her team.

“We are low in numbers but our spirits are high,” Caldwell said in a news release. “… We have established a slogan that ‘eight is enough’ and we are playing that way.”

LSU walked away from Auburn Arena with a 59-55 victory in the programs’ first matchup this season.

LSU junior forward Theresa Plaisance, a first-team All-SEC selection, goes into the tournament leading the team in scoring with 17.6 points per game, rebounding with 8.2 boards per game and blocking with a SEC-best 2.8 per game.

All-SEC freshman guard Danielle Ballard has also been a leader for LSU. Ballard posted double-doubles in each of LSU’s last two games and finished the season as the SEC’s steals leader.

“We’ve asked [Ballard] to do a lot of things as far as leading the team and knowing the offense,” Caldwell said. “… I think she’s answered that. She’s done a great job for us.”

LSU will hope to get a boost from senior guards Adrienne Webb and Bianca Lutley. Webb was selected to the All-SEC second team after finishing the season averaging 13.9 points per game.

Lutley has averaged 14 points, 3.5 assists and 2.3 assists in her last four games.

“Both of [the seniors] have stepped up tremendously,” Kenney said. “Bianca is finally getting in the lane and Webb has been able to knock down shots and finish plays with huge and-ones. You need that senior leadership.”

Auburn was led this season by second-team All-SEC selection sophomore guard Hasina Muhammad who finished the season averaging 14.7 points, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

The contest is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night. The winner will go on to face No. 3 seed Georgia in the quarterfinals on Friday night.

“We are also still the underdogs, and we love being the underdogs/”