Lady Tigers rip through South Carolina 67-37

No. 8-ranked LSU trailed for the first time in eight games, but then put together an 18-2 first-half run to put away South Carolina, 67-37, on Thursday evening at the Maravich Center.

With the win, the Lady Tigers (17-3, 6-0 SEC) remained undefeated atop the Southeastern Conference with Tennessee (19-1, 6-0 SEC).

South Carolina fell to 0-6 in league play and 11-10 overall.

LSU guard Quianna Chaney stayed hot, leading her team along with center Sylvia Fowles with 14 points. Fowles made 5-of-6 shots from the field, while Chaney was 5-of-11 with three three-pointers. Fowles led LSU with seven rebounds.

Guard RaShonta LeBlanc added 10 points, while forward Ashley Thomas had eight and point guard Erica White had seven. White and LeBlanc each dished five assists and Chaney added four.

The Lady Tigers forced 25 turnovers, converting these into 36 points. Chaney also had three of LSU's 13 steals.

LSU was 25-of-55 shooting (45.5 percent) while South Carolina was held to only 16-of-45 (35.6 percent).

The Gamecocks missed all 11 three-point attempts and committed 20 fouls to LSU's eight.

Forward Demetress Adams was the only Gamecock in double figures scoring with 15 points and 11 rebounds in 37 minutes. Her teammates shot less than 30 percent from the field.

For the first time since Dec. 30 against New Orleans -- a span of 283 minutes, 4 seconds -- the Lady Tigers found themselves trailing an opponent.

However, two two-point deficits in the opening minutes lasted only 60 seconds, as LSU used an 18-2 run to break a 10-10 tie and take control of the game.

Fowles started the run with a layup at the 10:40 mark and ended it with two free throws 6:21 later. In between, Chaney hit consecutive three pointers to stun the Gamecocks. After two South Carolina free throws, Hightower made a layup and a three pointer of her own before LeBlanc nailed her first trey.

LSU led 28-12 with 4:19 remaining. South Carolina outscored the Lady Tigers, 8-3, and trailed 30-21 at the half.

“At halftime I challenged the team to see if they could do what I wanted them to do,” LSU head coach Van Chancellor said. “They did and I am happy.

“We did not play with a lot of enthusiasm in the first half, but a South Carolina has something to do with that.”

South Carolina stayed within 12, 36-24, less than three minutes into the second half. However, LSU showed its dominance with a 22-2 run over the next nine minutes to lead 58-26.

Coach Chancellor then cleared his bench for the duration.

LSU returns to action on Sunday when they travel to Florida for an 11 a.m. CST contest.

GAME NOTES

- South Carolina took a 6-4 lead over LSU with 16:36 left in the first half, marking the Lady Tigers first deficit since trailing 2-0 to New Orleans 20 seconds into the game on Dec. 30.

- With LSU’s seven 3-point baskets tonight, the Lady Tigers have now made at least three 3-pointers in each of the last 11 games dating back to the Illinois-Chicago game on Dec. 18.

- Quianna Chaney has scored at least 10 points in each of the last 11 games with her 14 points tonight. The double figure scoring game is her 17th of the season and the 56th of her career.

- RaShonta LeBlanc scored in double figures for the fourth game this season and the 12th game of her career with her 10 points tonight.

- Sylvia Fowles scored in double figures for the 18th game this season and the 108th game of her career with 14 points tonight.