The LSU women’s basketball team controlled the game from the start against Georgia in a 53-46 road victory on Sunday afternoon at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia.
The win was the first for LSU (8-12, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) since beating Ole Miss on Jan. 7, which was the second conference game of the season. It was also the first win for the Lady Tigers without sophomore guard Jenna Deemer, who missed the last four games and was averaging 10.1 points per game.
“There was a different belief in this team on the road,” said LSU coach Nikki Fargas in a postgame radio interview. “We have been very close. We were close at Florida, we were close at home against Arkansas and tonight we just finished.”
LSU got off to a quick start, scoring the game’s first eight points, as the Lady Tigers jumped to a 15-8 lead going into the second quarter.
The Lady Bulldogs (14-6, 2-5 SEC)were able to tighten it up in the second quarter by keeping the Lady Tigers from hitting a field goal in the final 3:50 of the half, but LSU went into the half with a 21-15 lead. The Lady Tigers outrebounded Georgia, 19-9, in the first half.
In the second half, Georgia continued its stingy defense, holding LSU scoreless for almost five minutes into the third quarter, before freshman guard Shanice Norton made a layup with 5:14 left in the quarter.
The Lady Bulldogs took their only lead of the game on a free throw with 4:11 left in third, but LSU was able to close with an 8-1 run to take a 31-25 lead going into the final quarter.
The Lady Tigers would lead for the rest of the game, scoring 22 points in the final quarter. LSU trailed Georgia for just 23 seconds.
Four LSU players finished in double-digit scoring.
Junior guard Rina Hill led the Lady Tigers with 14 points. Norton tallied 12 points and six rebounds. Senior forward Akilah Bethel and junior forward Alexis Hyder each contributed 10 points, while Bethel had eight rebounds and Hyder had five.
Junior guard Jasmine Rhodes had five points but led the team in three statistical categories with nine rebounds, four assists and five steals.
“[Rhodes] was at the right places at the right times,” Fargas said. “She came up with some key offensive rebounds that gave us additional possessions. She made her free throws, critical free throws, down the stretch and she was our assist leaders. So, beside the fact that she didn’t necessarily score the basketball, she got other people involved.”
The Lady Tigers outrebounded Georgia, 38-28, and forced 25 turnovers by the Lady Bulldogs.
Senior guard Tiaria Griffin and senior forward Shacobia Barbee were the only Lady Bulldogs to reach double digits scoring. Griffin had 13 points while Barbee notched 12 points and seven rebounds.
“We have a defensive philosophy,” Fargas said. “And we have really bought into it and that is why we have been in games. Some of the games that we have lost haven’t been because of our defensive effort. Offensively, we have struggled. Tonight, we jumped over the hurdle of scoring the basketball and getting over 50 points, and we were able to come away with a victory.”