Despite being just a week removed from its second 24-point clobbering by then-No. 1 South Carolina this season, the LSU women’s basketball team hopes to rebound with its fourth win against a top-50 team when the Lady Tigers host Georgia at 7 p.m. tonight at the PMAC.
With only four regular season games left, the Lady Tigers (14-10, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) have to learn from their mistakes against South Carolina and apply corrections quickly against defensive-minded Georgia, which is hungry for a conference win after losing five straight games.
“We have a challenge ahead of us and a very good Georgia team, whose trademark is their defense and their ability to rebound and push tempo,” said LSU coach Nikki Caldwell. “Those are going to be some keys of the game that we focus on. We’ve spent these last few days really focusing in on getting better as a team.”
LSU was able to establish an early offensive rhythm with its starters against South Carolina, but once Caldwell turned to the bench, the offense couldn’t create any opportunities as the Gamecocks took over.
Throughout its conference schedule, LSU’s success has depended on an offensive spark and defensive toughness coming from its bench. In seven of their eight conference wins, the Lady Tigers outscored their opponent’s bench, averaging 27.3 points compared with 19 points allowed.
Against Georgia’s (17-8, 5-7 SEC) second-best SEC scoring defense, the support of the bench will be key to get the Lady Tigers’ two leading scorers, junior guard Danielle Ballard and sophomore guard Raigyne Moncrief, into a rhythm.
Coming off the bench, senior guard DaShawn Harden and junior forward Akilah Bethel are crucial to establishing consistent offensive production and defensive pressure.
Harden is a 3-point threat and helps the transition game through her ability to force turnovers. The Kansas native leads the Lady Tigers with 31 3-pointers made and is tied for the team-lead with 50 steals.
“[DaShawn Harden] is someone that can give us a spark in a big way on both sides of the basketball,” Caldwell said. “She’s a player that is one of our more skilled guards. She’s able to shoot the three … Her ability to come up with those deflections which then leads to a steal which then leads a transition basket. That’s the spark we need from her.”
Bethel’s physical presence inside allows senior forward Sheila Boykin to rest and gives the Lady Tigers a rebounder and disruptive presence at the top of their full court press.
Although Bethel’s defense was key to creating late game turnovers against then-No. 15 Mississippi State on Jan. 15, Caldwell said Bethel has to become “the weak-side clean up lady” off the bench on both ends of the floor.
Despite playing 19.8 minutes per game, Bethel averages only 4.6 rebounds per game.
Offensively, the Lady Bulldogs have struggled offensively since losing their leading scorer, junior guard/forward Shacobia Barbee, to a fractured right distal fibula against Tennessee on Jan. 25.
In their five straight losses since losing Barbee, Georgia averaged only 50.8 points per game and shot 35 percent from the floor. Junior guard Tiaria Griffin leads the Lady Bulldogs with 11.2 points per game.
“We just have to be mentally prepared,” said freshman guard Jenna Deemer. “We’ve got to work together as a team. We’ve been practicing their plays and our plays, but it all comes down to who is going to give the best effort and hustle.”
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewett_TDR.