The LSU women’s basketball team earned its first road victory since Nov. 25 with a 59-55 win against Auburn in Auburn Arena on Thursday.
LSU (13-8, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) defeated Auburn (13-8, 2-6 SEC) in a battle with 11 lead changes and six ties.
“This team has a composure about it, and it does not get rattled,” said LSU coach Nikki Caldwell in a postgame radio interview. “… We had some big plays down the stretch, and we made defensive stops when we needed them.”
It was another slow start for LSU, as Auburn jumped out to an early 13-6 lead – the largest lead either team would see all night.
LSU quickly struck back and found itself with a 28-26 halftime advantage.
The back-and-forth trend continued into the second half until a layup by LSU freshman center Derreyal Youngblood put LSU up 46-44 with about seven minutes remaining – a lead that LSU would not concede.
Auburn kept the game close until a steal with 22 seconds remaining by LSU freshman guard Danielle Ballard led to a pair of free throws that finally put the game out of reach.
Senior guard Adrienne Webb led the way for LSU with a game-high 21 points, including three crucial 3-pointers.
“Webb has been working extremely hard on being a leader for us,” Caldwell said. “… She is someone who comes in before practice and the last one to leave practice. She has been a great teammate.”
LSU junior forward Theresa Plaisance also had a big night with 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. The performance came despite going up against an Auburn squad that, with four starters who are more than six feet tall, is one of the biggest teams in the SEC.
“I thought that Theresa still kept her composure,” Caldwell said. “She still tried to play tough for us down the stretch.”
The victory against Auburn capped off a road-heavy stretch for LSU in which it played five of its last seven games in opponents’ home venues.
Caldwell said she and her team look forward to playing their next three games in the PMAC.
The first of those games will be Monday against No. 16 Texas A&M in the first match between the new conference rivals.
“This team has a composer about it, and it does not get rattled.”
