The LSU women’s basketball team starts its season on the road against Wake Forest University on Friday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at 4 p.m.
The Lady Tigers are coming off an 88-57 victory in their exhibition game against Union University on Nov. 4. Freshman forward Ayana Mitchell led all scorers in the game with 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
LSU’s matchup zone defense gave Union trouble but struggled to defend the perimeter, allowing 10 three pointers. This week the Tigers are making a concerted effort to defend the three ball before heading to North Carolina.
“We’ve got to be able to extend our defense,” LSU coach Nikki Fargas said. “I thought the three ball in the first half really hurt us but in the second half we made sure that we were closing out longer and harder. All five people have got to be ready to defend the three ball. When you play a match up zone that’s something you worry about.”
Mitchell said the Tigers are also aim to improve the mental aspect of their game before they open the season.
“This week has been more of a mental prep week,” Mitchell said. “We’re trying to make sure we break down Wake Forest’s offense and make sure we’re efficient with our offense.”
The Demon Deacons finished at the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference last season with a 13-20 record. Wake Forest is tasked to replace its leading scorer Danica Hornsby, who averaged 20 points per game last season.
“[Wake Forest} is a team that had a nice run in the later part of their tournament in the ACC Tournament,” Fargas said. “They lost a couple of their post players, but I know coach Hoover and their staff have their team prepared and ready to start just as we do.”
Junior point guard Raigyne Moncrief is expected to play against Wake Forest after battling an injury that kept her out of the team’s game against Union. Moncrief, a Coach’s Preseason All-SEC player, averaged 11 points last season and started 30 games for the Tigers.
“A difference maker in all of this is going to be Raigyne Moncrief, who we do expect to be playing on Friday,” Fargas said. “She’s someone who makes our team better. We didn’t have her at the exhibition game, but we’ve had her since then and been working her way into practice and she’s been very good.”
Freshman guard Shanice Norton replaced Moncrief in the game against Union, adding 12 points and two rebounds. Norton, a London, England, national, played the final two years of her high school career in Jacksonville, Florida, before coming to Baton Rouge.
Fargas said Norton and the other first year players will be tested in their first collegiate road game, but she doesn’t expect them to play like typical freshman.
“I like Shanice Norton coming in and giving Rina Hill some relief at point guard,” Norton said. “She’s a very aggressive guard that can really push the tempo. She does a great job of attacking aggressively off the bounce. She’s a smart defender and a great rebounder.”