The LSU women’s basketball team improved to .500 in Southeastern Conference play Sunday when they handily defeated Mississippi State 63-41 in Humphrey Coliseum.
The Lady Tigers (15-10, 6-6 SEC) earned the victory against Mississippi State (11-14, 3-9 SEC) primarily with a dominant second-half performance in which they outscored the Bulldogs 35-16.
“It started with our defense,” LSU coach Nikki Caldwell said in a post-game radio interview. “… Once we really settled into what we needed to do on the defensive end, we really got our game plan in action.”
LSU led by as many as eight points in the first half. After converting only one field goal in the final 10 minutes of the period, the Lady Tigers headed to the locker room with a narrow 28-25 lead.
The Lady Tigers began to find their rhythm again in the second half, and after going on an 18-4 run to take a 48-31 lead, they never looked back.
LSU junior forward Theresa Plaisance and senior guard Adrienne Webb led the run and finished the game with 14 and 16 points, respectively. Plaisance also picked up seven boards and three blocks.
LSU freshman guard Danielle Ballard looked as dominant as she did early in the season, shooting 7-for-9 from the floor to lead the Lady Tigers with a game-high 19 points, four steals and seven rebounds.
“We needed Danielle to really step up and showcase the quality of player that she is for us, and she did,” Caldwell said. “But more importantly, she also did a great job on the defensive end.”
Caldwell also praised freshman guard Anne Pedersen who contributed with four points and a steal off the bench.
The Lady Tigers were able to make Mississippi State sophomore forward Martha Alwal the SEC’s leading rebounder and No. 2 blocker a virtual non-factor.
Alwal, who posted double-doubles in four of Mississippi State’s previous five games, was held scoreless for the first time this season and limited to a single block and rebound in 19 minutes of play.
Caldwell gave most of the credit for shutting down Alwal to junior forward Shanece McKinney, who finished the game with five points, four rebounds and a career-high five blocks.
“Shanece McKinney really set the tone for us with her low post defense,” Caldwell said. “Alwal is a great player who has been instrumental in Mississippi State’s wins, but tonight McKinney just stepped up to the challenge.”
Mississippi State was instead led by sophomore forward Carnecia Williams who posted a team-high 13 points, three steals and a game-high eight rebounds.
LSU is now No. 7 in the SEC, and with five games remaining in the regular season, time is running out for it to improve that position.
The Lady Tigers’ next challenge will come at 8 p.m. Thursday when they head to Columbia, Mo., to take on their new conference rival Missouri (15-10, 4-7 SEC) for the first time since it joining the SEC.
“Alwal is a great player who has been instrumental in Mississippi State’s wins, but tonight McKinney just stepped up to the challenge.”
