It seems that the LSU women’s basketball team was playing with fire in their three most recent games. Coach Nikki Fargas said the Lady Tigers are simply finding their identity.
During this period, LSU (6-6, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) saw great advantages dissolve in games of possession near the final bell, winning two of them.
This gives Lady Tigers some momentum with South Carolina No. 4 as the next opponent at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at noon on Sunday. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
“Our team is finding its way, its identity, accepting the role that is played,” said Fargas. “We are playing the best we can. You don’t see many 20 or 30 point games. Teams will run and play. It all comes down to a few moves here or there to see if you win or lose.
“We have been able to position ourselves to be in the lead and play straight when you need to. Missouri is not an easy place to play. Our team came in and did exactly what they needed to do.
LSU at least showed improvement in finishing games, winning in Missouri by two and in overtime against seventh Texas A&M in overtime. The Lady Tigers improved their field goal shots and received contributions from several players at decisive moments.
Lady Tigers may need to step up this against a team from South Carolina (11-1, 6-0) leading the SEC and boasting perhaps the best trio of players in the country at Zia Cooke, Aliyah Boston and Destanni Henderson. The trio has a combined average of 42.6 points per game and shoots 43.6% in the 3-point range.
Boston, a six-foot-tall sophomore, had a double triple of 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks in the 62-50 victory against Georgia. Henderson has an average of 12.3 points and 5.8 assists per game.
“We are going to come in and make this a battle, a duel,” said LSU guard Khayla Pointer. “You have to make it difficult for them. Boston is a good one-on-one player. We have to do our best to help (post LSU) Faustine Aifuwa.
“We have to slow down Destanni; it is very fast. I’ve never seen anyone move so fast with the ball, be it right or left. We will do our best to contain it. “
LSU proved to be able to slow down strong offensive teams as it did against Texas A&M, keeping the Aggies at 39.6% of pitches and forcing 22 turnovers with their pressure defense. The Lady Tigers also had a better support game with Tiara Young and Karli Seay.
Young has averaged 15 points and five rebounds in his last five games. Seay moved on to the starting lineup and placed modest but consistent numbers at both ends of the court. Pointer continues to lead the team with an average of 16.1.
LSU overcame Texas A&M as well, but faces a bigger challenge against South Carolina, which has an average of 51.8 rebounds per game and a rebound margin of over-19.1. Gamecocks spins per game (13.6) are high, but so are average holdings per game (69.7) and points (84.2).
“The ink tips are your bread and butter,” said Fargas. “They make them go through the transition and get on the line. It is one of the best offensive rebound teams in the country (19 per game). We need to cut that number in half. If we do that, we can invade your possessions. We have to take some of these (pitches), keeping them off the board, not turning the ball and keeping the game at our pace. “