The Lady Tiger basketball team continued its early-season success with a two-game sweep en route to the Florida International University/Herald Thanksgiving Classic championship this past weekend in Miami.
No. 2 LSU improved to 5-0 on the early season and wrapped up a stretch of five games in a span of just eight days. LSU moved up to the No. 2 spot in the latest Associated Press poll and even garnered one first-place vote.
The Lady Tigers had no trouble handling Pacific Athletic Conference foe Washington State, giving the Lady Cougars an 87-50 defeat. LSU then took on host school FIU and beat the Golden Panthers 68-54.
“We’re seeing some good things,” head coach Sue Gunter said. “We just have to continue to get better. I think we got a little better each game.”
Forward Aiysha Smith tallied a double-double against FIU, with 13 points and 11 boards. Doneeka Hodges poured in 14, and freshman sensation Seimone Augustus also added 12.
FIU was able to connect on only 38 percent of its shots, and the Lady Tigers were able to pressure the Golden Panthers into 17 turnovers.
“Against WSU we started sluggish, but we opened it up in the last four minutes of the first half,” Gunter said. “Against FIU, playing them on their floor was the challenge we wanted. We never lost the lead in the second half, and we got excellent bench play.”
Gunter specifically pointed out that forwards Wendlyn Jones and Ke-Ke Tardy had a solid weekend. Jones, who had four points against FIU, also added six against WSU. Tardy, who is coming off of the bench this season, recorded eight points against FIU.
DeTrina White was the leading scorer with 14 points against WSU, followed by Augustus with 12. Little-used reserve Patty Hanten and point guard Temeka Johnson each scored nine on Friday.
Gunter said she feels good about the bench, which includes past starters, such as senior point guard Kisha James, Tardy and junior guard Roneeka Hodges. Jones and Duke transfer center Crystal White, who will be able to play at semester’s end, will provide additional depth.
“If you really think about it, these kids have been starters at some times,” Gunter said. “We felt Jones would give us quality minutes. Trying to get everybody worked in will be important to our success. These are experienced players. We have people that can come in and elevate the tempo, and we expect them to do that.”
LSU will be off until Friday, when the squad will take on Alabama State at 7 p.m. in the PMAC. Thus far, the Tigers have played just one home game and have traveled to Tucson, Ariz., and Miami.
“One of the things we saw was our conditioning was [wearing down],” Gunter said. “That’s because we’ve been traveling, and we haven’t practiced much. It’s good to come back home. I think we have been affected by what the past two weeks have been like.”