“Lady Tigers” wear down “Lady Bulldogs”

Humphrey vs. Fowles destine to become a classic match-up   

Bi-Lo Center – Greenville, GA

If you follow women's hoops and don't know who these 2 young ladies are then your not a women's hoop fan and if you don't follow women's hoops you don't need to know. "That's how we do it"

Tasha Humphrey quickly came out and made up for her foul prone performance on Friday night against Ole Miss scorching LSU with 3 quick jumpers in the paint to give the “Lady Bulldogs” an 8-3 lead. So dominant was Humphrey that LSU Head Coach Pokey Chapman quickly inserted her freshman McDonald’s All-American 6-5 Syliva Fowles.

The move paid some immediate results as Humphrey missed her next couple of shots having to adjust to Fowles 6-5 frame and 7-0’ arm span. LSU point guard Temeka Johnson is the heart and soul of the “Lady Tigers” and she showed it hitting a jumper to cut the lead to 8-5.

Humphrey finally adjusted her shot and hit a little jump hook over Fowles, then she took Fowles outside and drilled a jumper from the baseline to give the “Lady Bulldogs” a 12-9 lead. Meanwhile LSU All-American Seimone Augustus started heating up scoring on a fastbreak and hitting a pull-up jumper to give the “Lady Tigers” their first lead 13-12 with 12:42 left in the half.

Georgia's Megan Darrah puts a hand out to try and stop LSU's Florence Williams.

A jumper by Cori Chambers gave the lead back to Georgia as things really began to heat up. After a TV timeout Johnson hit Fowles with a nice pass for score. Wendlyn Jones then hit a nice turn-around jumper for the “Lady Tigers” giving them a 17-14 lead.

The teams continued to trade baskets before LSU went on a mini run getting back-to-back assists from Johnson to Augustus and two straight jumpers from Florence Williams giving the “Lady Tigers” their largest lead of the game 27-20 with 4:41 left on the clock.

Georgia really needed to get scoring from someone other than Humphrey if they planned on winning this game. Sherill Baker finally started looking at the basket and completed a three-point play as the “Lady Bulldogs” cut the lead to 27-23. After a brief rest Humphrey returned to the game. Williams knocked down another sweet jumper for LSU as the lead reached eleven, 33-23.

Georgia's Sherill Baker puts on a slick behind the back dribble that has LSU Scholanda Hoston leaning just a little.

Humphrey figured well if nobody else is going to put it up I will as she drilled a three-pointer. Janese Hardwick made a nice assist to Humphrey to cut the lead to 35-30. Johnson finished off a great half with a lay-up at the buzzer giving the “Lady Tigers” a 37-30 halftime lead.

Humphrey continued to cause problems for LSU inside as the 2nd half got under way hitting 2 free-throws to cut the lead to 37-32 after being fouled by Crystal White. White’s fouls forced another quick entrance for Fowles to try and combat the damage Humphrey was causing.

Jones stepped up and knocked down a pair of jumpers and Fowles powered her way inside for a lay-up giving LSU a 7-point lead 47-40. Baker really began asserting herself on the offensive end of the court making a strong drive to the hole to cut the lead to 47-46 with 14:04 left in the game. Humphrey picked up her 3rd personal but remained in the game. Hardrick once again sparked a Georgia comeback drilling a three-pointer as the :24 second clock expired to tie the game at 53-53.

Georgia's 6-3 So. center Rebecca Rowsey swats away a shot attempt by LSU-s 5-3 PG-Temeka Johnson.

Fowles is such a powerful rebounder that once she gets her offensive game together she is going to be destroying teams. She scored on a lay-up then a few seconds later was fouled and hit both free-throws to put LSU up 59-55. LSU appeared as if they were starting to seize control of the game when Fowles made a big block that resulted in a jumper by Johnson making the score 63-58.

LSU's Semoine Augustus puts up this soft jumper of the out stretched arm of Georgia's Rebecca Rowsey.

Humphrey busted a three-pointer to get the “Lady Bulldogs” back in the game 63-61, but they appeared to be running out of steam. Seimone Augustus, last years “Player of the Year” who had been quite most of the game started making plays hitting some big time shots for the “Lady Tigers”. First she hit a running hook shot then a short jumper to give LSU a 69-65 lead.

With 1:52 to play Williams hit a long jumper for LSU to open up a 6 point lead. Augustus grabbed a big rebound after Fowles missed the front end of a one-and-one and was fouled. She hit both foul shots to put the “Lady Tigers” up 73-65. Down the stretch Fowles controlled the boards and made a big block on a Humphrey’s shot as LSU went on to a big 79-65 win to advance to the SEC Championship game Sunday against the Tennessee/Vanderbilt winner.

Scoring Recap

LSU

Seimone Augustus scored 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds to lead five “Lady Tigers” in double-figures. Florence Williams finished with 16 points. Sylvia Fowles added 12 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. Temeka Johnson added 11 points and an outstanding 17 assists and 2 steals. Wendlyn Jones chipped in with 10 points.

Georgia