Women's basketball falls to South Carolina in regular season finale

The Tigers moved one game closer to concluding one of the most underwhelming seasons in recent history, getting crushed by No.3 South Carolina 75-39 in Columbia.

LSU’s 39 points scored were the second lowest total of the year in a season where the Tiger offense ranked last in the SEC in points per game, roughly six points behind the second to worst offense, Georgia. In a season which blowouts were common occurrence, the 36 point loss is not the greatest margin of defeat of the season. That would be the 46 point loss to UConn back in December.

The loss was another example of LSU struggling on offense, shooting 28.9 percent from the field overall, including 26.3 percent in the first half. Carolina, which had already won the SEC regular season title, shot 51.2% for the game, doubling up the Tigers 38-19 by halftime.

Despite losing by 36, the Tigers had the lead twice, early in the first quarter and only trailed by six after the first ten minutes.

South Carolina’s offense kicked in and pushed its lead to double-digits halfway through the second quarter and was up by 21 with just over a minute left in the half.

The third quarter saw the Tigers score just six points while the deficit hit 31 for the first time in the game. Carolina was able to empty the bench in the fourth quarter and still outscored the Tigers 19-14. As a whole, South Carolina’s 38 bench points almost matched the 39 points scored by the entire Tiger team.

Turnovers were another problem for the Tigers with 20 on the afternoon leading to 27 Carolina points.

Rina Hill led all Tiger scorers with 16 followed by Alexis Hyder’s ten.

LSU heads to Jacksonville for what is likely to be the final game of the season against Alabama in the SEC Tournament on Wednesday. Once that game is complete, there will be time to fully assess what has been by almost every indicator a disastrous season.