LSU sophomore guard Raigyne Moncrief drives into the paint and beats a defender only to miss the layup. 
Freshman guard Jenna Deemer catches a pass in space on the corner only to miss a wide-open 3-pointer. 
Junior forward Ann Jones steps up to the line and misses a free throw. 
Missed opportunities have characterized the LSU women’s basketball team’s offense through its first five games. 
“I think there’s definitely a frustration, but we have to just take it back and slow it down,” said junior guard Akilah Bethel. “We need to realize that the ball is in our possession and that we have control over what we
do.”
After losing the leadership of former LSU guard Jeanne Kenney, the Lady Tigers have struggled to find a floor general to command their half-court offense, leading to a disjointed and inefficient attack. 
LSU had consistent leading scorers in former forward Theresa Plaisance and Kenney last season, who averaged a combined 26.6 points per game. 
This season the Lady Tigers have yet to find a
reliable scorer. 
A different Lady Tiger has led LSU in scoring in each of its first five games, and the leading scorer
averages 14.8 points per game.
Moncrief is the leading scorer with 10 points per game but has led LSU in scoring only once this season in the regular season opener against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.
Against No. 22 Rutgers on Saturday, Moncrief tallied her worst offensive performance as a Lady Tiger, going 1-for-11 from the
field.
“[Moncrief]’s going to get it going because she will work at it,” said LSU coach Nikki Caldwell. “I think the injury, not that she is plagued by it, but there are days when her knee doesn’t feel great. There are days when it challenges her and that sometimes can be a setback at times. I think the thing with her is giving her that time back on the floor competing at this level.”
Despite the ups-and-downs of individual members, LSU’s offense has averaged a 34.8 percent shooting clip from the field through its first five games, the lowest field goal percentage to start the season during Caldwell’s
tenure.  
A major part of this lack of production stems from poor shot-selection and an inability to take advantage of achievable layups and free throws. 
LSU has shot only 67 percent from behind the free point line. 
In the last two games, the Lady Tigers have missed 20 layups, including 13 in the first half. 
Although LSU has outscored its opponents in the first half, it has been outscored by 13 points in the second half. 
Turnovers have cut into LSU’s possessions in the second half. 
The Lady Tigers average 11.2 turnovers in the second half and have tallied 28 less possessions in the second half than in the first half through their first five
games. 
“Turnovers are part of our game,” Caldwell said. “We’ve had teams that went on to the Sweet 16, and we were
averaging 20-plus turnovers a game. We just want to make sure that they’re those dead ball turnovers.”  
The Lady Tigers look to improve offensively as they head to Mexico this week to participate in the Hardwood
Tournament of Hope.
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.