LSU entered its highly anticipated matchup against South Carolina averaging 91 points a game, third highest in the country.
But after a hot start against the defending national champion Gamecocks, the Lady Tigers struggled to score and lost their first game of the year, falling to South Carolina 66-56.
LSU shot just 30% from the field. They started the game making 10 of their first 16 shots, but went 13 of 61 the rest of the way.
Eight South Carolina players played 15 minutes or more and all of them can defend. The Gamecocks had 13 blocked shots and held the Lady Tigers big three in check.
Flau’Jae Johnson, Mikayla Williams, and Annesah Morrow combined to shoot 17 of 54 from the field.
Morrow got her 19th double-double of the season before fouling out as she had 15 points and 16 rebounds.
Johnson and Williams each had 13 points.
Give credit to South Carolina, but the Lady Tigers also missed shots they normally make.
Here’s the good news. LSU’s defense has been a bit of a question mark, but they held South Carolina to 37% shooting from the field.
They also out rebounded South Carolina 51-39 and the Lady Tigers had 28 offensive rebounds, but just 22 second chance points.
“We are not doing enough when we get those offensive boards,” head coach Kim Mulkey said.
The turning point came midway through the third quarter. LSU was down three, but South Carolina’s lead quickly grew to nine points as USC scored on three layups and there were two Tiger turnovers that helped the Gamecocks gain control of the game.
“Turnovers at the wrong time, I think the momentum shifted when the turnovers occurred,” Mulkey said.
It was South Carolina’s 69th straight victory at home. And here’s the other bit of good news, LSU will not play South Carolina on its home floor again this season.
They also showed they can go toe-to-toe against the defending national champs.
“I learned we can hang with the best team in the country,” Mulkey said. “This is not the biggest game of the year, you might think it is, the biggest games of the year come in the playoffs when you got to keep grinding.”
LSU has a quick turnaround thanks to the one-day postponement. The Lady Tigers host Texas A&M on Sunday at 3 PM.
