Tigers Drop Duel in the Desert Opener to Pacific

Photo By: LSU/SEC

12/21/2020
LSU Sports Information
By: Tanner Craft


​LAS VEGAS — The LSU women's basketball team lost its first game in the Duel in the Desert, 73-64, to Pacific Saturday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center.
With the loss, the Tigers fall to 1-4 on the season. Pacific improves to 1-1 on the year.
Three Tigers finished in double-figures for the game. Senior Khayla Pointer led the Tigers with 16 points. She also notched four rebounds and four assists. Senior Awa Trasi finished with 13 points on 3-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Redshirt Senior Faustine Aifuwa finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Her double-double is the 12th of her career.
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Aifuwa got the Tigers on the board just 20 seconds into the game with a layup.
• Pacific went on an 11-2 run throughout the next three minutes to take an early 11-4 lead.
• After falling into a 17-12 deficit, LSU finished the first quarter on an 8-3 run, capped off by a Trasi three, to close the quarter in a 20-20 tie.
• LSU regained the lead to start the second quarter, 22-20, when Karli Seay made a layup.
• A 7-0 run by Pacific was broken when Seay hit a jumper, cutting into the lead, 27-24.
• An Aifuwa jump shot gave LSU a 30-29 lead with 2:48 remaining in the first half.
• Pacific scored the last points of the first half to take a 34-32 lead into the break.
• A Rakell Spencer layup with 8:18 left in the third quarter tied things back up at 35.
• LSU took a three-point lead with 5:10 left in the third after a Pointer jumper.
• Pacific fought back, and took a 52-49 lead heading into the final quarter.
• Trasi got the scoring started in the fourth quarter, cutting the Tiger deficit to only one, 52-51.
• Pacific went on a 11-3 run to take a 63-54 lead with 6:50 remaining in the game.
• A Pointer free throw and a Jailin Cherry layup cut the deficit down to 6 at 63-57.
• Pacific scored the next five points take a double-digit lead over the Tigers with 2:50 remaining.
• The Tigers fought back but Pacific hit a layup late to hold off the comeback, winning 73-64.

Up Next
 
The Tigers will remain in Las Vegas for the Duel in the Desert in the Thomas & Mack Center. They will be back in action on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT as they will face off against Loyola Marymount. The matchup will be streamed on FloHoops.com. As always, you can listen to the LSU Sports Radio Network on 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge.