Not much was going right for the No. 6 LSU women’s basketball team Sunday, but the Tigers played tenacious defense the entire game and eventually wore out No. 18 Vanderbilt in the second half.
Facing a 7-point deficit in the second half, LSU (17-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) also got help from a rowdy Super Bowl Sunday crowd to pull out a 70-59 win.
“Seeing that we have that many people in the stands on Super Bowl Sunday is almost unbelievable,” said point guard Temeka Johnson. “For them to cheer the way they did and get us into it the way we were getting after it.”
Johnson used the crowd’s energy to smother opposing guard Erica Grimaldi, who started in place of the injured Ashley McElhiney.
“That was the plan, to put pressure on the ball and it would stop them from looking over the floor,” Johnson said.
With 11 lead changes in the first half alone and the Commodores shooting nearly 64 percent, LSU was unable to find an offensive rhythm, but continued to play solid defense. Vanderbilt (12-6, 2-3) led 33-28 at the half.
“In the first half, we did not have an answer for their high-low game with (Jenni) Benningfield and (Chantelle) Anderson,” said LSU head coach Sue Gunter.
Vanderbilt’s post players combined for 37 points to lead the Commodores, who had success on the inside with the absence of LSU’s DeTrina White. Without her, other Tigers stepped up to make big plays, which helped LSU break out of its slump.
“They’re so athletic that you have to take your time,” Anderson said. “They have great athleticism.”
The Tigers continued to struggle early in the second frame, falling behind after Anderson made two foul shots.
The tide turned for LSU with 7:57 to play in the game, when Johnson stole the ball, drove to the basket and was fouled. Her two free throws gave the Tigers the lead for good.
Vanderbilt head coach Melanie Balcomb said LSU’s pressure and depth really affected the team late in the game and forced them to take bad shots and miss easy ones.
“Their pressure makes you go fast,” Balcomb said. “We rushed our shots and turned the ball over a lot.”
The Commodores committed 25 turnovers in the game and shot only 37 percent in the second half.
“One possession we would alter the ball and have no trouble with the press,” Benningfield said. “But the next possession a couple of us wouldn’t cut and get open and call for the ball, help the guards out.”
Gunter went to the press with 10 minutes to go, and did not let up until the game was out of reach for the Commodores.
“We just felt we had more bodies and it was time to try and open it up,” Gunter said.
The Tigers were able to extend the lead late in the game and Vanderbilt players could not make shots like they had in the first half.
“With the press, we tried to come out, make some hustle plays and make them have some turnovers,” Smith said.