Womens Hoops Falls at No. 16/18 LSU, 73-49
12/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Kent State committed 26 turnovers and shot just 31 percent from the floor compared to 43 percent for the Tigers.
The Golden Flashes were not intimidated by the bigger, more athletic Tigers, matching LSU shot-for-shot in the first 17 minutes of the first half and had head coach Bob Lindsay and the Flashes smelling the possible upset.
The first half saw four lead changes and nine ties. The Tigers played right into the Flashes hands early on as KSUs zone defense slowed the Tigers and the pace of the game while forcing LSU to take quick shots from the perimeter.
The two teams were dead-locked at 24-24 with three minutes left in the first stanza before the wheels came off for Kent State. LSU went on a 13-3 run in the final three minutes of the first half and a 10-2 run to open the second.
The Tigers led by as much as 22 at one point in the second half, however, the Flashes refused to quit. A three-point play by Csaszar cut the lead to 15 with 7:58 remaining. However, each time it seemed the Flashes were staring to gain momentum, LSU came right back with runs of their own to keep the Flashes at bay.
LSU scored 20 points off 26 Kent State turnovers, outscored the Flashes 16-2 on fast break points and 44-20 in the paint.
Kacie Vavrek (So., Bellaire, Ohio) and Malika Willoughby (So., Milwaukee, Wis.) each had five points for the Flashes. Melissa DeGrate (Jr., Amarillo, Texas) connected on one three-pointer for three points while Christi Shibata (Sr., Harbor Springs, Mich.) and Tiffany Kelly (So., Wadsworth, Ohio) both had two.
LSU had four players score in double figures including a game-high 18 by Seimone Augustus.
Kent State will face Arkansas State (7-1) in the consolation game of the WomensCollegeHoops.com Classic at 5 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 18).
Notes: Kent State is 0-2 against ranked teams this season and 2-8 against ranked teams since 1998 â?¦ Andrea Csaszar scored in double figures for the fifth time in six games this season â?¦ Csaszar had three block shots to bring her career total to 96, three away from third place on the KSU career blocked shots list â?¦ the Flashes extended its streak of consecutive games with at least one three-pointer to 21 games.
