LSU Lady Tigers Lose by 1 in a Grueling Battle Against the Tennessee Lady Vols 64-63

Photo By: Brittney Achord

1/11/2021
By: Brittney Achord
Da Boot Sports!

   The Lady Tigers found themselves sitting at 4-5 after a tough road loss to Alabama on Thursday night, to now hosting Tennessee. A Tennessee team who is 7-1 on the season, 1-0 in the SEC, and outscoring their opponents by 20 points.  LSU will need to catch fire and play a hard for 40 minutes.
   The Lady Tigers did just that, hitting the court with a purpose and that was to beat the Lady Vols. They played with heart from the second their feet hit the court until the buzzer sounded to end the game.  

   Senior Khalya Pointer played fiercely today scoring 25 points, while adding three rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
   Pointer’s five assists put her at number nine on the LSU career assist list with 387 career assists.
   Sophomore Tiara Young also had a phenomenal game with 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. 
   With nine points, four rebounds, one assist, and two steals, Senior Awa Trasi showed her relentlessness on the court.
   Karli Seay would also put on a show with six points, six rebounds, two assists, and six steals.
   Faustine Aifuwa would foul out with 20 seconds left in the game, but not before putting up eight points, two rebounds, and a steal.


   Here is the 'Da Boot Sports' Game Break Down:



          1st HALF:

   The Lady Tigers would hit the court with a ferociousness like no other.  While the Lady Vols would put up the first four points, it was Senior Khayla Pointer who would put the first two points on the board for the Lady Tigers.  After a steal by Senior Karli Seay, Pointer would score 2 more points with a layup.   The Lady Vols and the Lady Tigers would continue matching point for point.  Senior Awa Trasi would bring the Lady Tigers to a tie 10-10 electrifying the PMAC just before the media timeout with 4:44 left to go in the 1st quarter. Coming out of the timeout, Khyala Pointer would hit a huge 3-point jumper that would give the Lady Tigers the lead.  Tiara Young would then finish the first quarter with a layup on the fast break keeping the Tigers on top, 19-16. 


   LSU’s Freshman Ajae Petty would put the first points on the board in the 2nd quarter scoring on a layup.  LSU would keep Tennessee under control with a dynamic defense effort. Scoring 11 points, the Lady Tigers would keep the lead until 1:33 left in the 2nd quarter when the Lady Vols would put up two points on a jumper by Rennia Davis, sending Tennessee into the halftime break with a 33-32 lead.
   The Lady Tigers played boldly in the first half shooting 46.4% in field goals, 33.3% from 3-point land, 83.3% from the free throw line, while grabbing 14 rebounds, and three steals. 





          2nd HALF:

   As intense as the first half was, the second half was packed with energy and fight by the Lady Tigers. The Lady Vols would come out of the half with a 4-0 run putting them ahead 37-32. 
   LSU would however answer back with a 5-0 run.  Faustine Aifuwa would get a steal which would put the ball in the hands of Senior Awa Trasi who would make the layup.  Trasi would get fouled sending her to the free throw line for another point. 
   Another steal by Khayla Pointer would get the ball to Aifuwa who scored an electrifying layup on the fast break that would once again tie the game up at 37-37.
  With 1:22 left in the third, Pointer would help regain the lead, 46-44 with a powerful layup. 
  Tennessee's Rae Burrell would answer back with a 3-pointer, giving the Vols the lead going into the final period, 47-46.


   The Lady Tigers would continue to trail until just over three minutes into the fourth quarter when a layup by Pointer would tie the game 52-52 at the 6:36 mark. 
   With just over three minutes left in the game, the Vols would go on a 6-0 run leaving the Tigers trailing 60-54.
   LSU would battle back cutting the lead to only two, 60-58 with a jumper from Aifuwa and two
free throws by Pointer with 2:20 left in the game. 
   The Lady Tigers would turn up their intensity of play for the final minute and a half of the contest, giving Tennessee all they could handle.
   Tiara Young proved to be unwavering bringing the Tigers to within one point with just 28 seconds left on the clock, 64-63. Unfortunately it would be the final points scored in the ball game as the Lady Vols would hang on for the win.  



   This loss was a tough one to swallow. The Lady Tigers showed much improvement and played
with intensity and heart for 40 mintues. 
   Khayla Pointer played a fantastic game, leading the team in scoring with 25 points on the night. Tiara Young contributed 11 points, while Awa Trasi (9 points), Faustine Aifuwa (8 points), and Karli Seay (6 points) all played well. 
   LSU now sits at 4-6 overall, 2-2 in conference play, as they will next host Texas A&M on Thursday,
January 14th, 6pm tipoff. 
   Buy your tickets and come out to the PMAC to cheer your Lady Tigers onto Victory!

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Photo Below By: Brittney Achord