 Photo By: Brittney Achord 1/29/2021 By: Brittney Achord Da Boot Sports! As the NCAA released the current NCAA standings for women’s gymnastics on Monday, January 25th, the LSU Women’s Gymnastics team anxiously awaited the results. These Tigers have been on a mission to do what has not been done before in what they have claimed as an “unprecedented” season. Their hard work, dedication, consistency, and relentlessness is paying off as the LSU Women’s Tiger Gymnastics program came in at No. 2 in the nation behind Florida. Gymnastics rankings are much different than most sports. While the Tigers are 3-0 in the season, gymnastics rankings are based on a team average of the final score per meet, not the number of wins or losses. The Tigers hold an average team score of 197.008 after two 197+ competitions. However, the SEC added the Regular Season Champions where LSU holds two of the four titles since 2017. When talking to head coach Jay Clark about this week’s standings, he noted “we don’t talk a lot about rankings.” He went on to say he does like for the team to know their ranking. He stated, “It points out that they are doing well, but that they need to continue to do better, that the job is not done. We haven’t done anything yet. The job is not done.” Right now, Coach Jay, Coach Bob, Coach Ashleigh Gnat, and Coach Ashleigh Claire-Kearney are focusing on taking it one day at a time. Between these four powerful, veteran coaches, they know how things can change in the blink of an eye. The 2021 Senior Class is not unfamiliar with holding the No. 2 spot. In 2018, their freshman year, the Tigers finished out the last few weeks of the regular season at the No. 2 spot, ended as SEC Champions, Southeast Regional Champions, 2nd in the NCAA Semi-Finals, and 4th place in NCAA SuperSix. While the Tigers took fourth that year, their 197.8375 was the highest SuperSix team score in LSU school history. In addition to being No. 2 in the nation, the Tigers also sit No. 2 on Floor, No. 4 on Balance Beam, and No. 6 on Vault and Bars. While we have not seen as much of Sophomore Kiya Johnson this season due to an injury, she currently sits in the No. 1 spot on floor in the NCAA with her 10.00 opening night against Arkansas. Coach Jay stated in an interview earlier this week that Johnson is feeling better, however he does not want to push her too soon. We will likely see a slow transition back into the AA lineup for Johnson over the next few meets starting with vault and bars, then beam and floor. Individually, Haleigh Bryant is rocking her freshman year. On Tuesday, the announcement was made that Bryant was SEC Freshman of the week, her third honor this season. So far this season, Bryant has captured two vault titles with a 9.90 against Arkansas and Georgia, the all-around title against Georgia, and career/season highs of 9.90 on bars and beam, and a 9.975 on the floor. In an interview earlier this week, Bryant was asked about how she felt going into last week's match up against the GymDogs after being named SEC Gymnast of the Week. “I definitely didn’t feel any extra pressure. I think I just had to go in there and do the gymnastics I do in the gym and take it one skill at a time and one routine at a time, and then it’s going to happen.” After Friday night’s upsetting floor score for Bryant, it was made aware that Bryant is missing an “up to the level” skill in her routine. The LSU coaches are working on adding an extra skill in Bryant’s middle tumbling pass to correct this deduction. Per Coach Jay, Bryant will continue her floor routine as is, with the deduction, due to an injury at the Arkansas meet. Bryant will keep working on the addition in practice in hopes of adding it in competition soon. The LSU Tigers were set to take on the Auburn Tigers tonight in the Auburn Arena; however due to Covid-19 protocols, tonight’s tiger showdown has been postponed until a later date. This LSU Tiger team has done a phenomenal job overcoming all obstacles thrown their way this season. Per Coach Jay, “We are going to keep the momentum where it needs to be and continue to take steps forward… We will keep our nose to the grindstone and not get too far ahead of us and not look side-to-side a whole lot. We will focus on the five minutes in front of our face and get better.”
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 Photo By: LSU/SEC 1/27/2021 LSU Sports Information By: Judy Willson Women’s Basketball Travels To No. 22 Georgia For Thursday Tip BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU women’s basketball team will face six top 25 teams in its next eight games, with a trip to Athens, Georgia up next. The Tigers will play No. 22 Georgia on Thursday, January 28 at 6 p.m. CT in Stegeman Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network Plus with Matt Stewart and Mark Slonaker calling the game. Fans can watch SECN+ on the internet at ESPN.com/watch or on the ESPN app. A link to the game is available on LSUsports.net. The games will also be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and locally in Baton Rouge on 107.3 FM. Voice of the Lady Tigers Patrick Wright, in his 31st season, will be on the call from the LSU Radio Studio. A links to live stats is available at LSUsports.net. LSU Preview LSU is 6-7 on the season and is 4-3 following Sunday’s loss to No. 4 South Carolina, 69-65. Senior Khayla Pointer led the Tigers with 18 points, while sophomore Tiara Young came off the bench for 16 points. Six players grabbed at least four rebounds in the game as Young had the most with six. Pointer leads LSU with 16.2 points, 4.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game, while her points average jumps to 19.9 in SEC action. Aifuwa leads the squad with 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game. She is also the second leading scorer on the team with 11.2 points per game and 11.9 in SEC play. In conference play Young is averaging 14.1 points per game and shooting 52.5 percent from the field. Aifuwa is next up on the 1,000 career points watch list with 896 points, while Pointer climbs the 1,000 point career list to No. 27 with 1,145 points. Aifuwa needs eight blocks to join Julie Gross (178; 1978-80) for second place on the LSU career blocks list and currently sits 16th on the career rebounds list (674), needing 53 boards to take over Raigyne Louis’ spot at No. 15. Pointer moved into the Top 10 on the LSU career assists list recently, sitting in eighth place with 399. With one more assist she will become the eighth LSU player to dish out 400 career assists. The Opponent – Georgia Georgia is ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press poll and No. 21 in the Coaches poll with an overall record of 13-2. The Bulldogs are 5-2 in SEC play. Two starters are averaging double figure scoring – Jenna Staiti (14.7 ppg) and Gabby Connally (11.1 ppg). Staiti is also the team’s leading rebounder with 7.9 boards per game. This will be the 49th meeting between LSU and Georgia. The Bulldogs lead the series, 27-21, with a 15-6 lead in Athens. Georgia has won four of the last five games in the series. Season and Single Ticket Sales Information For the 2020-21 season, seating for LSU women’s basketball games will be general admission in the PMAC. Seating has been reconfigured to support physically-distanced seating. Available seats will be spaced out in blocks of 2, 3 and 4 seats in order maximize attendance opportunities. Fans will be allowed to sit in any seat that is marked as available. Sections 112 and 115 are reserved for player guests. Single game ticket prices are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for youth ages 3-12. To order tickets for any of LSU’s last four women’s basketball home games, go to LSUtix.net. Follow Along on Social Media Follow updates on LSU women’s basketball on Twitter and Instagram at @LSUwbkb or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lsuwbkb.  Photo By: Brittney Achord 1/26/2021 LSU Sports Information By: Brandon Berrio LSU-Auburn Gymnastics Meet Postponed BIRMINGHAM - The gymnastics meet between LSU and Auburn, scheduled for Friday, January 29, has been postponed due to COVID-19 protocols and contact tracing within the LSU program. The action is consistent with COVID-19 management requirements developed by the SEC’s Medical Guidance Task Force. The opportunity to reschedule the meet will be evaluated.  1/26/2021 LSU Sports Information By: William Franques LSU TIGER TRACKS THIS WEEK ON CST BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU Tiger Tracks, a program highlighting various aspects of the university and its athletic department, can be seen at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday on Cox Sports Television. A replay of the show will air on Friday at 7:30 a.m. CT. The show, hosted by Jordy Hultberg and Bill Franques, is a weekly 30-minute production featuring interviews with LSU administrators, coaches and student-athletes, along with a look at some of the events and scholarly activity on campus. Tiger Tracks begins with a report by correspondent Paul Boron on the second-ranked LSU gymnastics team, which has started the 2021 season with three straight wins. Boron later provides a profile of senior Paris Corley of the LSU women’s tennis squad, which begins its season on January 31 versus Rice and Southern. The show also features a tribute to legendary former gymnastics coach D-D Breaux, and Tiger Tracks concludes with a look at how LSU researchers are finding ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  Photo By: Brittney Achord 1/24/2021 By: Terrill J. Weil Da Boot Sports! BATON ROUGE, La.: The Lady Tigers come into Sunday's contest with #4 South Carolina on a two game winning streak, sitting at 6-6 overall, 4-2 in SEC play. The Gamecocks are 11-1 overall and are in first place in the SEC with a 6-0 record. Carolina has four players who average double-digits in scoring, lead by guard Zia Cooke, 15.9 ppg, while forward Aliyah Boston averages 14.4 ... Nikki Fargas will need her Tigers to play at a high level as they face their toughest opponent of the season. Below is our 'Da Boot Sports' game break down.... 1st HALF: Both teams would struggle to get on the board to start the game, with missed shots and turnovers happening on both ends of the floor until the Lady Cocks would finally get on the board with two free throws by Zia Cooke with 8:23 to go in the first quarter. After Carolina's Aliyah Boston would miss a pair of free throws, Khayla Pointer would put LSU on the board with a layup to tie the score at 2-2. Over the next four minutes the game would pick up in tempo as both teams would race up and down the floor answering each other as we would go into an officials timeout at the 3:48 mark with the Lady Cocks on top 10-8. It then looked like South Carolina was beginning to take control of the contest as they would build a five point advantage with 1:45 left on the clock. But LSU would answer finishing the 1st quarter with a 4-0 run to cut the lead to one, 13-12. The Lady Tigers actually seemed to outplay Carolina so far, but hurt themselves turning the ball over five times in the opening quarter. LSU would draw first blood to start the second quarter as Tiara Young would hit a jumper just inside the top of the key to give the Tigers the lead, 14-13. The Tigers would build a four point lead at the 6 minute mark as the Cocks would struggle to score. However LSU would miss several opportunities to increase their lead missing several easy shots under the basket. South Carolina would finally score their first points of the second quarter at the 5:00 mark on a jumper by Destanni Henderson, putting the score at 17-15, Tigers. Over the final five minutes of the half, both teams would go at it like a pair of heavy weight boxers, scoring back and forth, playing it even at 23-23. The Lady Cocks would take the ball down the court with 17 ticks left looking to take the final shot to take the lead into the locker room, but it would turn out to go the other direction as Karli Seay would make a great steal and take it the length of the court, laying it up and in with 2 seconds left on the clock giving LSU the lead, 25-23 at the break. Tiara Young would lead the Lady Tigers in scoring at the half with 10 points. LSU finds themselves playing perhaps their best game of the season defensively, as they have been suffocating the Gamecocks forcing nine turnover and holding Carolina's leading scorer, Zia Cooke to only four points. 2nd HALF: LSU would continue to play well as they would score the first four points of the 3rd quarter to build a 6 point lead, 29-23 at the 8:40 mark. After going the first three minutes of the quarter without scoring, the Lady Cocks would begin to heat up outscoring LSU 9-4 over the next three minutes as the Tigers would cling to a 33-32 lead at the 4:59 mark. In a hard fought, exciting basketball game, both teams would go back and forth trading the lead over the next five minutes, but the Tigers would hold on to lead 45-43 at the end of the 3rd quarter, as Faustine Aifuwa would hit a jumper with one second left. South Carolina would find an extra gear to start the final quarter going on a 9-2 run over the first three minutes to take a 52-47 lead. But the Lady Tigers would still have lots of fight left in them, as Khayla Pointer would score four straight cutting the lead to one, 54-53 with 5:07 left in the game. Over the next two minutes the Cocks would go on a 6-2 run as LSU would struggle to score during the stretch, 60-55 South Carolina with 2:51 left to go. LSU would stay ice cold over the next two minutes, as they simply couldn't get the ball to go in the hole, while allowing Carolina to score a couple of easy fast break baskets to run the Cocks lead to 66-57 with only 1:14 left on the game clock. South Carolina would hang on for a 69-65 victory over a very scrappy LSU team who left their hearts out on the floor. Khayla Pointer had an outstanding game for the Lady Tigers leading the team with 18 points followed by Tiara Young with 16 points. LSU played solid defense for most of the game against a very good basketball team, however it was their inability to make several easy shots in the paint that would come back to haunt them in the end. The Lady Tigers would shoot 25-60 for 42% from the floor, while finishing 2-6 from three point range, for 33%, and ended up 13-17 from the free throw line for 76%. Turnovers also hurt LSU as they committed 17 in the game. You just can't miss easy looks at the basket and turn the ball over that much against a team like South Carolina. LSU now sits at 6-7 overall and 4-3 in conference play. Next up the Lady Tigers will travel the Athens, Ga. to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday, January 28th at 6pm. Photos Below By: Brittney Achord No. 5 LSU Tiger Gymnastics Walks Away Victorious Over the Georgia GymDogs 197.20 to 196.3751/23/2021  Photo By: Brittney Achord 1/23/2021 By: Brittney Achord Da Boot Sports! And the Winning Streak for the No. 5 ranked LSU Women’s Gymnastics Team Continues…. From dropping banners to dropping 9.9s, the LSU Women’s Gymnastics team declared another victory against the Georgia GymDogs last night. This continues the LSU Tiger winning streak over the GymDogs to 5 straight seasons and improves them to 3-0 for the 2021 season. While the LSU Gymnastics Alumni were not there in person to cheer on these phenomenal gymnasts, you could feel them there helping lead them to a 197.20 to 196.375 victory. Before the night kicked off, it was time to honor the most significant alumni there has ever been in the history of LSU gymnastics, Coach D-D Breaux. Tonight, as Coach Breaux made her way down the vault runway and onto the floor, the banner was revealed from the rafters recognizing her 43 seasons, 8 NCAA Finals appearances, 4 SEC Championships, 266 All-American honors, 2014 and 2017 National Coach of the year, and a total of 816 wins. This was just the beginning of a night filled with season and career highs. Starting off with a season high vault score of 49.275 is always a dynamic way to kick things off. The Tigers put up six fantastic vaults. The night got started with Chase Brock and her influential yurchenko full that not only scored a 9.875, but sparked a fire that would continue to burn throughout the night. The scores would continue to rise with a 9.875 from Alyona Shchennikova’s beautiful yurchenko full and a half. Sarah Edwards would bring her energy to the lineup with an electrifying yurchenko full and a half adding a 9.825 to the Tiger’s vault score. Sami Durante brought her graceful lines and a 9.85 with her yurchenko full. Haleigh Bryant anchored for the Tigers tonight with an amplified front handspring front pike half that scored a 9.90 to seal the lead for the Tigers in the first rotation. While the Tigers were dominating on vault, the GymDogs put up a 49.075 on the uneven bars. Over on uneven bars, Kyia Johnson would keep that flame burning swinging a mighty routine bringing the Tigers a 9.875 to start the lineup. Olivia Dunne would help the Tigers bar lineup with beautiful lines and a 9.70. Haleigh Bryant added to the Tiger bar lineup and her all-around score with a smooth 9.85. With beautiful lines and a powerful double layout dismount, Alyona Shchennikova helped the Tigers' bar score with a 9.80. It was Sami Durante in the anchor spot who stole the spotlight on bars tonight with handstands that reached the rafters bringing another 9.90 for the night. The Tigers finished uneven bars with a 49.125, bringing their lead to 98.4 over the GymDogs 98.075 going into the third rotation. Scoring a 49.35, only 0.025 less than their season high of a 49.375, the LSU Tigers beam team showed consistency, grace, and unrelenting routines. It was a night for senior excellence and leadership. Senior Christina Desiderio was the start of escalating scores for the beam team with a gorgeous 9.80. Senior Sami Durante did not disappoint with elegant leaps and flight series and a 9.85 to build this Tiger beam team’s score. Freshman Haleigh Bryant showed continued consistency and poise as if she were a seasoned veteran on this Tiger beam team. Bryant’s 9.875 matched Senior Bridget Dean’s exquisite routine and score. Senior Reagan Campbell brought a season high 9.95 routine filled with elegance and confidence. The Tigers would continue their lead of 147.75 to the GymDogs 147.25 after the GymDogs put up a 49.175 on floor. When you finish the night with two career highs and a season high, you finish the night with a season high floor score of 49.45. This is just what the Tiger floor team did. Senior Bridget Dean would rock the PMAC with a high flying, fun moving, career high 9.90 routine. Reagan Campbell showed off her grace and control opening up with a dynamic two and a half twist, finishing with a season high 9.875 to add to the Tiger floor team. Another career high by Alyona Shchennikova with the second career high 9.90 on floor for the Tigers continued to ignite the PMAC. Senior Sarah Edward’s energy could not be contained as she brought the PMAC to their feet with a 9.925 routine. Tiger anchor Haleigh Bryant would finish the floor with a powerful 9.85. Going into this meet tonight, the Tigers are ranked No. 4 in the nation, this should definitely help boost them up a spot or two in the standings. The LSU Tiger gymnastics team put up a relentless fight against the Georgia GymDogs tonight pulling away with another victory to add to their list with a 197.20 to 196.375. What was even more amazing tonight were the exhibition routines that displayed the depth this LSU team has with a 9.875 on vault by Kamryn Ryan, a fluent bar routine from Chase Brock, a career high 9.825 by Alyona Shchennikova on beam, a strong beam routine from Olivia Dunne, and two powerful floor routines by Elena Arenas and Sierra Ballard. Up next, it is a Tiger showdown. The LSU Tigers take on the Auburn Tigers in the Auburn Arena on January 29th at 4:00 pm CST. This matchup will be live on ESPN 2. Photos Below By: Jonathan Mailhes Photos Below By: Brittney Achord  1/22/2021 By: Brittney Achord Da Boot Sports! It has been a long time rival, the Tigers and the GymDogs. The days of GymDog domination dwindled down and were overtaken by a herd of elephants, a congregation of gators, and an ambush of tigers. While the GymDogs hold a 69-38-2 record over the Tigers, the Tigers have a 4 season winning streak against the GymDogs, and have been victorious the last four straight match ups in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU and Georgia have a lot of history, not just rivalry. LSU Head Coach Jay Clark is formerly from the University of Georgia where the last three years of his career with the GymDogs were spent as head coach. Senior Sami Durante’s mother, Danna Durante, shares common ground with Coach Clark as she stepped in as head coach for the GymDogs after Coach Clark joined the LSU program. Alena Arenas and Sami Durante are both from Athens, training at the same gym, Georgia Elite Gymnastics, that is owned by Arenas’ parents. Chase Brock is from Atlanta, Georgia right outside of Athens. Freshman Haleigh Bryant is formerly from Georgia before moving to North Carolina. The list goes further to show how much of a connection this Tiger team has with the Georgia GymDogs. Coming off an enormous win on the road against Arkansas, LSU hit the gym this week on a mission to prepare for Friday night’s rumble in the jungle. The pressure is on when you out score every team in the NCAA on the road and have the SEC Freshman of the week for the second week in a row. The tigers feed off the energy from the fans, and these are some ravenous tigers. In order for the Tigers to walk away triumphant and maintain their winning streak, there needs to be six, not five, but six hit routines on all four events. There needs to be feet glued to the mat on every landing. There has to be complete handstands with toes pointed and stretching as if they were trying to touch the top of the PMAC. There needs to be amplitude, intensity, and gracefulness like none other before. This is how the Tigers ambush the GymDogs in the PMAC. You can watch Friday night’s meet live on SECNetwork+ through WatchESPN.com. Doors open at 6:15 PM CST. The first vault will take off at 7:35 pm CST. 1/19/2021
LSU Sports Information By: William Franques LSU TIGER TRACKS THIS WEEK ON CST BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU Tiger Tracks, a program highlighting various aspects of the university and its athletic department, can be seen at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday on Cox Sports Television. A replay of the show will air on Friday at 7:30 a.m. CT. The show, hosted by Jordy Hultberg and Bill Franques, is a weekly 30-minute production featuring interviews with LSU administrators, coaches and student-athletes, along with a look at some of the events and scholarly activity on campus. Tiger Tracks begins with a profile by correspondent Paul Boron on the newest members of the LSU football coaching staff -- offensive coordinator Jake Peetz and passing game coordinator DJ Mangas. Boron later provides a preview of the upcoming 2021 LSU Softball season, as coach Beth Torina begins her 10th year at the helm of the program. The show also features a tour of the LSU Baseball hitting facility with assistant coach Eddie Smith, and Tiger Tracks concludes with testimonials from LSU student-athletes on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Photo By: LSUsports.net 1/19/2021 LSU Sports Information By: Aaron Hyder Baton Rouge, La. – LSU track and field super senior JuVaughn Harrison was named the SEC Men's Field Athlete of the Week on Tuesday afternoon the league office announced. A two-time national champion, five-time All-American and 2019 Bowerman semifinalist, Harrison opened up his 2021 season on Saturday at the Purple Tiger Invitational in the long jump. A native of Huntsville, Ala., Harrison leaped out to an SEC leading and NCAA No. 2 mark of 26' 2.25" (7.98 meters) in the long jump to claim his first event title of the season. The mark of 26' 2.25" is currently the third-best mark in the world for 2021. Harrison and the LSU track and field team will be back in action this weekend at the Woo Pig Classic in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Photo By: The Advocate 1/19/2021 LSU Sports Information By: Brandon Berrio LSU’s Bryant Named SEC Gymnast of the Week BATON ROUGE – LSU freshman Haleigh Bryant has been named the SEC Gymnast of the Week after her outstanding all-around debut against Arkansas, the league office announced Tuesday. Bryant captured the all-around title with a 39.600 against the Razorbacks. It marked the third highest score of 2021 and the best by a freshman. The all-around score is the highest for any LSU freshman in their debut, and she is the fifth gymnast to score a 39.600 or higher in their first season. The Cornelius, North Carolina, native also picked up the win on floor with a 9.95. Her average score of 9.975 ranks second in the nation. Bryant scored a career high 9.90 on bars and also scored a 9.90 in her first collegiate performance on beam. This marks the second honor for Bryant in as many weeks. She was named the SEC Freshman of the Week after the season opener. Bryant and the Tigers return to the floor to take on No. 11 Georgia at 7:15 p.m. CT Friday in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The meet will be streamed on SEC Network+ through WatchESPN.com and the app.  Photo By: LSU/SEC 1/19/2021
By: Brittney Achord Da Boot Sports! COLUMBIA, Mo.: It was a “down to the last second” kind of game once again as the Lady Tigers clawed their way to a victory over Missouri on Monday night, 66-64. The Lady Tigers seem to be finding their rhythm more and more with each game. It showed defensively tonight as LSU held the Missouri Tigers to only 8 points in the first quarter, something no other opponent has been able to do this season. Once again, Khayla Pointer put up tremendous numbers scoring 22 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Pointer is having a senior season to remember. Tiara Young continued to shine with 16 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. This hometown girl is moving mountains for this Lady Tiger basketball team. Faustine Aifuwa had an outstanding night with 12 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and two steals. Aifuwa’s 6’5" stature and dynamic energy is no match for any opponent. Seniors Awa Trasi and Karli Seay also played ferociously tonight for the Lady Tigers. Trasi added to the night with nine points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Seay also contributed to the Lady Tigers with seven points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Overall the LSU Lady Tigers shot well, shooting 47.8% from the floor, an improved and impressive 57.1% from 3-point range, but struggled from the free throw line, shooting only 62.1% there.. Here is the 'Da Boot Sports' Game Break Down: 1st HALF: LSU would come out of the gate knocking the Mizzou Lady Tigers off their feet, not allowing them to find their rhythm the entire first half. While Mizzou would be the first to put points on the board, LSU would quickly answer with a 7-0 run. Faustine Aifuwa would start it off with a layup, ending with a beautiful 3-point jumper by Khayla Pointer that would put the Lady Tigers in the lead 9-2 with 4:00 left in the first. Awa Trasi’s intensity started early tonight with a steal, storming down the court, scoring with a layup bringing the Lady Tigers to 13-6 with 1:44 left in the first period. Even though Mizzou answered back with a layup to end the first quarter, LSU would hold their lead 13-8. Tiara Young would quickly put four points on the board in the second quarter giving LSU a 9-point lead. 2-2 free throws by Karli Seay, and a steal by Pointer allowing back-to-back layups by Aifuwa, continued to extend the Lady Tiger lead over Mizzou, 23-11. While Mizzou answered back with nine more points to end the half, it was no match for this LSU Women’s Basketball Team's relentlessness. LSU would end the half with a Pointer 3-pointer, giving the Tigers a 28-20 lead at the break. 2nd HALF: Both Tiger teams would combat for control of the ball coming out of the half. With 3:18 left in the 3rd, Pointer would score on a layup starting a 7-0 run for the LSU. After getting fouled, Awa Trasi would score at the free throw line giving LSU a 14 point lead, 48-34. This go around Khayla Pointer loved to see the three pointer from Karli Seay with 3 seconds left in the third period, that would put the LSU Lady Tigers ahead 52-37 going into the fourth and final quarter. Mizzou would start things off with a made layup, however the Lady Tigers would answer right back. Aifuwa’s second chance layup not only extended the LSU Tiger lead 54-38, it also gave them the largest lead of the night at 16 points. Mizzou would answer back with a 6-0 run, four points coming off free throws putting LSU in foul trouble. LSU would continue to lose their rhythm and begin to struggle allowing Mizzou to close the gap to within one, 58-57, with 2:37 left in the game. Mizzou would put themselves in foul trouble sending Young and Pointer to the free throw line, allowing LSU to stretch the lead to 64-59. While Mizzou outscored LSU in the fourth 27-14, LSU Lady Tigers held tight to their victory 66-64. This gives LSU their second consecutive SEC win bringing them to 6-6 on the season, and 4-2 in the conference. While there is still room for improvement, the Lady Tigers are making a statement each game that they will not back down, they will not give in, they will persevere and press on game-by-game, taking down one opponent at a time. Up next, the LSU Women’s basketball team takes on No. 4 South Carolina in the PMAC, Sunday, January 24th at 12:00 pm CST. This showdown will be aired on the SEC Network. You can also listen to the Voice of the Lady Tigers, Patrick Wright, broadcasting on 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge.  Photo By: Brittney Achord 1/18/2021
LSU Sports Information By: Brandon Berrio LSU Gymnastics Posts Highest Week Two Score in the Nation BATON ROUGE – The LSU gymnastics team scored a season high 197.275, which marked the highest in the nation in week two and second-highest road score in the nation this season. The Tigers remained at No. 5 in the polls after the season high on Friday night against No. 6 Arkansas. LSU improved its team score by .725 from week one to week two and now owns an average of 196.913 early in the season. LSU’s vault and beam lineups rank seventh in the nation. The Tigers are also third on bars and fourth on floor. The average of 49.363 on floor is the highest for teams that have competed in multiple meets. The bars score of 49.425 that started the meet on Friday is tied with Oklahoma for the highest in the nation in 2021. Individually, Haleigh Bryant and Bridget Dean rank sixth on beam with an average of 9.90. Kiya Johnson is the top performer on floor and Bryant ranks second. In her debut in the all-around, Bryant scored a 39.600 for the second highest score in the nation this year. LSU returns to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at 7:15 p.m. CT Friday to take on No. 11 Georgia. The meet will be streamed live on SECNetwork+ through watchESPN.com and the app.  Photo By: Brittney Achord 1/16/2021
LSU Sports Information By: Judy Willson Women’s Hoops On Road At Missouri Monday BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU women’s basketball team travels to Missouri for a Monday night game on the SEC Network. Game time on January 18 is set for 6 p.m. CT. The Tigers are 5-6 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, while Missouri is 5-3 overall and 1-2 this season. It will be Missouri’s We Back Pat game. The SEC celebrates its annual We Back Pat Week beginning with games on January 14 and runs through January 21. It is the 10th anniversary of the celebration of the legendary coach Pat Summitt. Teams use the time to bring awareness to Coach Summitt’s worldwide influence through basketball and the continuing need for research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Fans can donate to The Pat Summitt Foundation at patsummitt.org. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network with Courtney Lyle and Carolyn Peck calling the game. Fans can watch SECN on their local cable and satellite providers, on the internet at ESPN.com/watch or on the ESPN app. A link to the game is available on LSUsports.net. The games will also be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and locally in Baton Rouge on 107.3 FM. Voice of the Lady Tigers Patrick Wright, in his 31st season, will be on the call from the LSU Radio Studio. A links to live stats is available at LSUsports.net. LSU Preview LSU is 5-6 on the season and is 3-2 following Thursday night’s overtime victory against No. 7 Texas A&M, 65-61. Sophomore Tiara Young came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points as the Tigers extended their home win streak against the Aggies to five games. Senior Khayla Pointer had a solid game with 17 points and six assists, while senior Karli Seay had her second consecutive game with at least five steals. Redshirt senior Faustine Aifuwa recorded her sixth double-double of the season and 15th of her career with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Pointer leads LSU with 15.5 points, 4.7 assists and 2.6 steals per game, while her points average jumps to 19.8 in SEC action. Redshirt senior Faustine Aifuwa leads the squad with 9.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game. She is also the second leading scorer on the team with 11.5 points per game and 12.8 in SEC play. In conference play Young is averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting 52.7 percent from the field. Aifuwa is next up on the 1,000 career points watch list with 877 points, while Pointer climbs the 1,000 point career list to No. 29 with 1,105 points. Aifuwa needs nine blocks to join Julie Gross (178; 1978-80) for second place on the LSU career blocks list and currently sits 16th on the career rebounds list (661), needing 66 boards to take over Raigyne Louis’ spot at No. 15. Pointer moved into the Top 10 on the LSU career assists list on Sunday, sitting in eighth place with 393. The Opponent – Missouri Missouri is 5-3 overall and 1-2 in SEC play. The Tigers have four players averaging double figure scoring – Aijha Blackwell (15.1 points per game), Hayley Frank (14.3 ppg), Ladazhia Williams (13.0 ppg) and Shug Dickson (10.3 ppg). This will be just the 15th meeting between LSU and Missouri. LSU leads the series last season, 10-4, with the teams splitting last year’s series as each won on its home court. Season and Single Ticket Sales Information For the 2020-21 season, seating for LSU women’s basketball games will be general admission in the PMAC. Seating has been reconfigured to support physically-distanced seating. Available seats will be spaced out in blocks of 2, 3 and 4 seats in order maximize attendance opportunities. Fans will be allowed to sit in any seat that is marked as available. Sections 112 and 115 are reserved for player guests. Tickets are available for Sunday’s game against South Carolina in the PMAC. Single game ticket prices are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for youth ages 3-12. To order season and single-game tickets for LSU women’s basketball home games, go to LSUtix.net.  Photo By: Brittney Achord 1/15/2021 LSU Sports Information By: Brandon Berrio No. 5 LSU Gymnastics Wins SEC Opener Over No. 6 Arkansas FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Freshman Haleigh Bryant scored a 39.600 in her all-around debut to lead the fifth-ranked gymnastics team to a 197.275-196.625 victory over No. 6 Arkansas Friday night inside Barnhill Arena. The Tigers improved to 2-0 on the year and 1-0 in the Southeastern Conference regular season standings. The squad’s team score was a season high and the third-highest score in the country in 2021. Bryant made her debut in the all-around and shined for the Tigers with a 9.85 on vault, career high 9.90 on bars and beam, and 9.95 on floor. Bryant’s all-around score marked the third highest in the nation this season. “We got off to such a strong start on bars from an execution standpoint,” head coach Jay Clark said. “We had some diversity tonight and did not let up. Some of the girls had tough spots to be in and it didn’t faze them. We have plenty of places to improve, but to go on the road for the first time and get a 197 score is really important.” Underclassmen Deliver to Start Strong With four of six underclassmen in the Tigers’ bars lineup they delivered with huge scores to start LSU’s meet strong. Kiya Johnson and Bridget Dean each opened up with a 9.825. Freshmen Olivia Dunne and Bryant then each scored a career high 9.90. Alyona Shchennikova rebounded from her season opener with a 9.925 and Sami Durante closed out the event with a 9.875. Vault Extends Lead at Halfway Point LSU put up a solid 49.100 on vault to take a 98.525-97.800 lead over the Razorbacks. Elena Arenas opened with a 9.800 and Shchennikova and freshman Chase Brock followed with a 9.825. Sarah Edwards scored a 9.80 and Bryant earned a 9.85 in the anchor spot. Bryant, Johnson One-Two Punch Lead Floor The Tigers scored a solid 49.375 on floor to extend their lead. Dean opened with a 9.75 and senior Reagan Campbell scored a 9.85. Edwards matched her season high with a 9.875 and Bryant and Johnson ended the rotation with a 9.95 for the floor win. Beam Clinches the Win In a last second switch on beam for Christina Desiderio, Arenas answered the call and opened the beam lineup with a 9.825 for a career high. The lineup continued to build and after Durante’s 9.85 the trio of Bryant, Dean and Campbell ended the night with a 9.90 to seal the SEC win. Next Up LSU returns home to take on Georgia in the PMAC at 7:15 p.m. CT Friday. The meet will be televised on the SEC Network.  Photo By: Brittney Achord 1/15/2021
By: Brittney Achord Da Boot Sports! BATON ROUGE: The Lady Tigers brought the #7 ranked Lady Aggies’ 12 game winning streak to a halt on Thursday night in an intense 45 minute game. The 65-61 upset overtime victory now has LSU at 5-6 on the season, 3-2 in the SEC. Sophomore Tiara Young had an unforgettable night with a career-high 20 points and four rebounds. Per Coach Fargas in her postgame interview, “She showcased why she's going to become one of the best players in our league.” For the sixth time this season and 15th in her career at LSU, Senior Faustine Aifuwa had an outstanding double-double game with 16 points, 11 rebounds, while adding three blocked shots. Senior Khayla Pointer continued to dominate the court both offensively and defensively scoring 17 points, grabbing seven rebounds and six assists. Pointer now with 394 career assists, moves up to No. 8 on the LSU career assist list, surpassing former Tiger, Rhonda Hawthorne (1982-1986), who had 391 total career assists. Senior Karli Seay also dominated both offensively and defensively with eight points, four rebounds, three assists, and five steals. LSU’s first half had a season high of 34 points and shot 48.3% from the floor for the game. Here is the ‘Da Boot Sports’ Game Break Down: 1st HALF: The Lady Tigers preyed on the Lady Aggies for a full 45 minutes during this great SEC battle. Only 23 seconds into the game, Rakell Spencer had the crowd on their feet with a brutal block allowing Faustine Aifuwa to grab the defensive rebound. Tiara Young would put the first of many points on the board for the Lady Tigers with a jumper inside the paint. Khayla Pointer would follow with a 3-point shot to put the Tigers ahead of the Aggies 5-4 early in the game. LSU would go on a 7-0 run over the next two minutes of the first quarter. Karli Seay would make a beautiful jumper to put the Tigers up 15-10 with 1:22 left to go. A&M would answer back with a jumper, but it was Young’s buzzer shot that left the PMAC booming and the Lady Tigers up 17-12 going into the second quarter. Tiara Young would be the first to add to the Tigers lead with a jumper inside the paint only 33 seconds into the second quarter. The Lady Aggies would continue to struggle to get the ball moving offensively, While three minutes into the second quarter, Seay would score a layup on a fast break to bring the lead to double digits, 25-14. The Lady Tigers would continue their relentless defensive pressure only allowing the Lady Aggies five points half way into the second quarter. With four minutes remaining, a steal by Spencer, followed by a layup by Ajae Petty and an assist by Sarah Shematsi gave LSU their biggest lead of the night at 17. The Lady Tigers were dominating the Lady Aggies 34-17, something no other opponent has been able to accomplish this season against the Aggies. A&M would however finish the half strong with a 9-0 run closing the gap to 34-26 going into the halftime break. 2nd HALF: Less than 30 seconds into the 3rd quarter, Faustine Aifuwa would score on a layup bringing the lead back to double digits. LSU would struggle to keep their momentum as the Aggies closed the lead to within four points with 4:14 left in the 3rd period. A 30-second timeout by the Tigers brought them back to life with a 6-0 run by Young and Pointer. This time it would be Destiny Pitts for A&M who would answer back with a 3-point shot at the buzzer bringing the score to 39-46. While LSU still held the lead, their fire was starting to fizzle. The fourth quarter was a gruesome battle up and down the court by both teams. The Lady Tigers struggled to keep scoring allowing the Lady Aggies to come within one point with just over 3 minutes left in the game. Pointer would quickly answer back with a layup giving the Tigers a three point lead, 52-49. With 49 seconds left in the game the Destiny Pitts would put up a 3-point shot that gave the Aggies their first lead since the 1st quarter. Aifuwa ferociously answered back with a jumper inside the paint with five seconds left on the clock that tied things up 54-54. A steal by Jailin Cherry with three seconds remaining, would send the game into overtime. OVERTIME: Tiara Young would quickly score on a jumper, followed by a 3-pointer by Pointer, and assist by Cherry, followed by a free throw by Aifuwa to give the Tigers a 6-0 run and the lead, 60-54. The only points LSU would allow the Lady Aggies so far in the extra period would be from the free throw line as the Lady Tigers refused to back down from this fight. With nine seconds left, Aggies Destiny Pitts would hit a 3-point shot that put the Aggies within two points, 61-63. With the crowd on their feet, it was Khaya Pointer who scored a layup on a fast break to give the Tigers a 65-61 victory. The Lady Tigers are definitely beginning to find their rhythm. LSU scored 38 points in the paint, 16 from turnovers. They held the 12-0 Lady Aggies to 26 points in the first half, which only one other opponent has been able to do this season. They outscored the A&M 11-7 in overtime. Again, something no other opponent has been able to do this season. Even with foul trouble early in the game, the Lady Tigers set out on a mission to dominate this game and that they did. It was a huge conference win for Coach Nikki Fargas and her team. Up next, the Lady Tigers will head to Columbia, MO to take on the Mizzou Tigers on Monday, January 18th at 6:00 pm. The game will be televised on SEC Network and radio broadcast will be on 107.3 FM. |
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