The LSU women’s basketball team rang in the new year on a high note, beating Auburn in the SEC opener 56-43.
Offense was hard to come by for LSU, especially early on. LSU could only muster 19 points in the first half, and had more turnovers, 12, than made shots, 8. Freshman forward Ajae Petty came off the bench and led LSU with five points in the first half.
LSU made its push in the second half, thanks in large part to its calling card: playing exceptional defense. LSU went to the press in the second half and the Tigers held Auburn to 16 points for the entire half. LSU forced 24 turnovers and got 22 points off them. Eight of the 11 players who saw the floor Thursday night recorded a steal.
While LSU shut down Auburn defensively in the second half, it found its rhythm offensively. The Tigers scored 37 points in the second half, and outscored Auburn 17-6 in the fourth quarter. All-conference guard Khayla Pointer scored 10 of her team-leading 14 points in the second half and was a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line.
LSU was nearly perfect from the line Thursday night, hitting 14 of 15 attempts. They needed all 14 of those makes too, as they went 0-9 from three
The Tigers were also uncharacteristically tough on the glass Thursday night, and out-rebounded Auburn by four. LSU’s senior-laden frontcourt— Faustine Aifuwa, Rakell Spencer and Awa Trasi—combined for 23 of LSU’s 43 rebounds.
LSU will travel to Oxford to take on Ole Miss on Monday. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 P.M.