The LSU women’s basketball team defeated its second top-20 opponent in two games with its 84-79 upset against No. 10 Kentucky on Sunday.
LSU (10-8, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) handed Kentucky (15-4, 4-2 SEC) its fourth loss of the season and its third straight loss in the PMAC, where Kentucky has not won since 2010.
The Lady Tigers made it through the toughest part of their schedule this season after playing three top-20 opponents in four games, defeating two of them.
“Today we earned a quality victory over a very good basketball team,” said LSU coach Nikki Caldwell. “Kentucky is one of those teams that, they like to run the basketball. When players are in rhythm, there’s not a person that can’t have that green light to take the shot.”
LSU had its highest scoring game of the season and outscored Kentucky’s third-ranked SEC offense. The Lady Tigers had three players score in double digits and were led by junior guard Danielle Ballard’s 25 points.
LSU’s highest scoring game of the season was also one of its most efficient. The Lady Tigers shot 44.9 percent from the field and committed only 17 turnovers.
Senior forward Sheila Boykin, who finished the game with a double-double, said her team’s success against Kentucky and in recent conference games has been the result of the team’s willingness to share the basketball.
“We’re getting to be more unselfish,” Boykin said. “We’re making the extra pass. When someone sets someone a good screen we’re pointing at them. It’s the little things that we’re doing that make the biggest difference.”
Though Kentucky outrebounded the Lady Tigers by 17, LSU was able to win the battle for points in the paint and disrupted Kentucky’s offense enough to cause 26 turnovers. LSU’s transition offense was able to convert those opportunities into 27 points.
Ballard’s presence has worked wonders for LSU, and she has scored more than 20 points in the team’s two upset wins against ranked opponents.
Ballard thanked her teammates and said she feels ready to take her team to the next level.
“I feel like I am back,” Ballard said. “I’ve been getting up some extra shots at practice. My teammates are pushing me at practice to get better. They are just preparing me for games like this. We are all getting better.”
Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell spoke highly of Ballard and applauded Caldwell for her ability to coach through LSU’s stretch without her star shooting guard.
“[Ballard is] a really tough player and just keeps her dribble alive and uses the ball screens really well,” Mitchell said. “I really have so much respect for LSU for hanging in. Nikki just has a great program and does a great job. They’re a really tough team, and I think Danielle’s a big reason they are playing well.”
Though LSU’s victory helped bolster its position in the SEC standings, the Lady Tigers lost senior guard DaShawn Harden, their top scorer this season, early in the second half to an eye injury. Caldwell did not specify the severity of Harden’s injury.