Another game, another in-state opponent, another win for the LSU women’s basketball team.
And another big performance by Allison Hightower.
The Lady Tiger senior guard racked up 20 points and four steals, leading No. 5 LSU (7-0) to a 57-33 win against the University of New Orleans (6-4) on Sunday afternoon in the PMAC after an 11-day break.
But Hightower was just about the only bright spot for LSU offensively outside of sophomore forward Courtney Jones, who scored 10 points. No other Lady Tiger scored in double figures, as LSU shot 22-of-63 from the floor for a 34.9 shooting percentage in the game.
“I thought we did everything we wanted to offensively,” said LSU coach Van Chancellor. “We executed really good. We just couldn’t make a shot.”
Instead it was the defense that ultimately propelled LSU to victory. The Lady Tigers forced 32 turnovers and collected 12 steals in limiting the Lady Privateers to 33.3 percent shooting.
“Looks like to me our defense returned, and the things we wanted to improve on, we improved on,” Chancellor said. “But offensively, we couldn’t throw one into the Atlantic Ocean … I’m going to hope to goodness it’s the 11-day layoff.”
Hightower made her presence felt quickly after UNO led, 5-1, in the early goings. LSU cut its deficit to 6-5 thanks to Hightower, who had all five of the Lady Tigers’ points after a little more than four minutes of play.
Sophomore forward Taylor Turnbow then decided to get into the act, scoring on a short turn-around jumper to give LSU a 7-6 lead.
A Hightower breakaway steal and layup later, and the Lady Tigers led, 9-6.
Hightower scored in double digits in the first half, racking up 16 points to collect half of the Lady Tigers’ offensive output for the first 30 minutes. She also had three steals by the break.
“Nobody in the NFL is playing better than Drew Brees is right now,” Chancellor said when asked about the New Orleans Saints, “Let me tell you something else. In the last two games, there ain’t nobody in college basketball playing better than Allison Hightower. Allison Hightower is the Drew Brees of women’s college basketball.”
The Lady Privateers went on a 5-0 run to cut the Lady Tigers’ lead to 14-11 with 9:07 left in the first half. UNO senior forward Candice McGee and senior guard Brittany Helm nailed a jumper and a 3-point shot in that run.
But three points would be the closest UNO got to LSU in the first half. The Lady Tigers went on an 18-9 run after the 3-pointer by Helm and led, 32-20, at the break.
“We stayed in the game as far as the defensive end,” said LSU junior guard Katherine Graham. “Our shots weren’t falling, but we were making it tough for their shots to fall.”
Hightower scored again 10 seconds into the second half on a jumper to give LSU a 34-20 lead. Hightower and Graham scored back-to-back baskets about two minutes later.
But UNO went on another run, this time 7-0, causing Chancellor to call a timeout.
Chancellor said he challenged his team during the timeout.
“I just didn’t want that game to get too close,” he said. “I never have been one to think you ought to carry timeouts home with you.”
LSU went on a 19-6 run to close the game after the timeout.
LSU junior forward Taylor Booze left the game with about two minutes left with a right knee injury after hitting the floor hard while trying to drive to the hoop. Teammates carried her into the tunnel after she stayed on the floor for several minutes.
Chancellor said after the game he isn’t sure how serious the injury is and that Booze will be re-evaluated tomorrow.
LSU returns to the PMAC on Tuesday to face Houston Baptist in the inaugural Sue Gunter Classic, in memory of former Lady Tiger coach Sue Gunter. Gunter coached LSU for 22 seasons before her death in August 2005.
 
—-Contact Robert Stewart at [email protected]