When a team suffers an early season loss, a decision must be made. The team can handle the game the wrong way, and let the loss haunt the rest of the season, or it can see the game as a lesson and move forward.
The LSU women’s basketball team (2-1) stands at this type of crossroads as it takes on the Hampton Pirates (2-0) 7 p.m. tonight in the PMAC.
The team comes into the game following a 88-67 loss to the Louisville Cardinals in the semifinal of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament on Thursday night. It was the Lady Tigers’ worst loss since a 30-point drubbing to UConn three seasons ago.
“We need to own up to the fact that we played a good team,” said head coach Nikki Caldwell, “Own up to the fact that they did what they said they were going to do. … We are only going to be as good as our weakest player.”
The key moment in Thursday’s loss came when Louisville went on a 20-0 run at about the midway point of the second half. Caldwell said afterward that it was a 40-minute game and the team only played about 30.
“A lot of things went wrong,” said senior forward Theresa Plaisance. “We got into a slump. Every team’s going to have a run. … When that happens, we just have to be ready to fight back instead of crumble like we did.”
LSU’s greatest struggles came in the paint. Louisville outrebounded the Lady Tigers 45-33, and the Cardinals more than doubled LSU’s point total in the paint.
The Lady Tigers’ fortunes down low may change against Hampton, whose tallest player is shorter than three different Lady Tigers.
Hampton comes into the game in the middle of one of its greatest runs in program history. The Pirates went 16-0 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the first time last season, and they have won the MEAC and earned an NCAA Tournament appearance in each of the last four seasons.
The two teams met in Hampton, Va., last season as the Pirates upset the Lady Tigers, 67-58. The game pushed Hampton to an impressive 3-2 versus Southeastern Conference teams under coach David Six.
The Pirates are lead by senior forward Alyssa Bennett, a starter since coming to the school in her sophomore season. Bennett won MEAC Defensive Player of the Year last season, and has averaged 23.5 points a game in Hampton’s first two games this season.
Caldwell said that limiting Bennett’s touches and being aware of where she is at all times will be key to success.
LSU will also be without sophomore guard Danielle Ballard, who will not be playing due to a violation of team rules, according to Caldwell. Ballard led the team in assists and was third in points.
Caldwell said it is important for her veterans to remember the basics after a loss like the one suffered Thursday.
“We forget what this program was built on,” Caldwell said. “It was built on players who believed in defending and rebounding the basketball, and we lost sight of that. As a coach, you have got to come back and take ownership of the performance of your team.”