March 1, 2002
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Aiysha Smith scored 18 points to lead five Lady Tigers in double figures as LSU defeated Kentucky 74-62 Friday night in the Southeastern Conference tournament quarterfinals.
The fourth-seeded Lady Tigers (16-10) will play No. 3 Tennessee, the tournament’s top seed, in Saturday’s semifinals. It will be LSU’s first appearance since 1996.
“It was just a win, a win we needed very badly,” LSU coach Sue Gunter said.
No. 12 seed Kentucky (9-20) had ended a 13-game losing streak to reach to the quarterfinals, but couldn’t hold onto the magic against LSU. The Lady Tigers outrebounded Kentucky 41-27.
“Obviously, nobody thought we’d be here, and that just shows you again the heart of this ballteam,” Kentucky coach Bernadette Mattox said. “LSU was very patient in their offense, they took care of the basketball. We gave up too many offensive rebounds, too many fast-break opportunities and they capitalized on them down the stretch.”
Smith scored six of the first nine points as the teams traded baskets early. The Lady Tigers took the lead for good at 15-14 when Temeka Johnson drove the lane for a layup at 9:43.
LSU ended the half with six unanswered points and led 34-25. Kentucky’s cold streak extended more than three minutes into the second period until a jumper by Rita Adams with 16:37 remaining finally ended the drought, 39-27. By then it was too late for Kentucky.
The Lady Tigers led by as many as 41-27 on a bucket by Doneeka Hodges with 16:27 remaining.
A late rally twice pulled Kentucky within five points, but the Wildcats could get no closer than 66-61 on a driving layup by Doneeka Hodges.
She finished with 15 points, Johnson had 13, Scholanda Dorrell had 11 and Ke-Ke Tardy 10.
Sese Helm and Adams topped scoring for Kentucky with 14 points each, Sara Potts followed with 11, while Shambrica Jones had 10.
