And so the streak continues.
The LSU women’s basketball team has still not won at Vanderbilt since 2005, as the Lady Tigers (15-9, 5-5) dropped a 55-50 contest to the Commodores (15-7, 6-3) Thursday night in Nashville. Vanderbilt is now 12-0 at home this season, and LSU has only won three times at Memorial Gym.
LSU’s offensive frustration continued Thursday, shooting 1-of-15 from 3-point range (6.7 percent) and 7-of-12 free throws after falling behind 7-0 to start the game.
LSU trailed 28-21 at halftime and fell behind 30-21 when the second half started. LSU fought back to tie the score at 40-40 with 10:15 left on two free throws by junior forward Courtney Jones, but offensive troubles ultimately prevailed.
“We just didn’t have enough energy,” LSU coach Van Chancellor said in his postgame radio show. “We stole the ball three times and missed three wide open 3-balls. We’re really struggling.”
Chancellor said the Lady Tigers’ defensive performance wasn’t their undoing. LSU forced 22 turnovers, outrebounded Vanderbilt 33-29 and recorded 12 steals to Vanderbilt’s two.
But LSU committed plenty of turnovers of its own, including six by junior forward LaSondra Barrett, who was in foul trouble early. She shot 6-of-11 from the field for 14 points, all in the second half. Senior guard Katherine Graham led LSU in scoring for the third straight game, racking up 17 points.
Jones played the entire second half, recording six rebounds, seven assists and seven points, although she shot just 2-of-10. Sophomore guard Adrienne Webb scored just three points and did not make a 3-point shot for just the second time this season.
Vanderbilt redshirt freshman center Stephanie Holzer spearheaded the offensive attack with 23 points in 29 minutes.
“We never got [Holzer] away from the lane,” Chancellor said. “She’s a heck of a player.”
LSU hits the road again on Super Bowl Sunday to face Ole Miss at 1 p.m. The Lady Rebels knocked off Florida, 61-59, on Thursday in Gainesville, Fla. LSU beat Ole Miss handily Jan. 20 in Baton Rouge, 78-43, behind double figure performances by Barrett, Webb and freshman guard Jeanne Kenney.
“Ole Miss will be mad,” Chancellor said. “They played well [Thursday] night.”
LSU also played Ole Miss on Super Bowl Sunday in 2010, a triple-overtime loss to the Lady Rebels in the PMAC.