Lady Tigers fall short

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 6, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS – Top-seeded LSU Lady Tigers were defeated by No. 2 seed Baylor in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament Sunday night, 68-57.

Seimone Augustus led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 10-26 from the field. Augustus also added five rebounds and two assists.

Senior guard Temeka Johnson scored 14 points in her final game as a Lady Tiger on 6 of 12 shooting. Johnson also had seven assists and four steals.

Tillie Willis was held scoreless in her final game at LSU but contributed three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Senior Florence Williams came off of the bench and pulled down one of the Lady Tigers’ 34 team rebounds.

Sylvia Fowles scored another double-double with 12 rebounds and 13 points shooting four of seven from the field. Fowles also made five of six from the free-throw line.

As a team, LSU struggled from the free-throw line hitting 61.5 percent on eight of 13 shooting. Baylor shot 85.7 percent making 18 of their 21 attempts.

The score was tied 7-7 in the first half when the Lady Tigers’ offense took over going on a 17-2 run. The 15 point lead was there largest of the night. The Lady Bears of Baylor responded ending the half with a 19-4 run resulting in a halftime score of 28-28.

LSU battled in the second half but Baylor was too much for the Lady Tigers as they scored nine of their last ten points from the free-throw line. Baylor’s eleven point lead was their largest of the night. The game was tied ten different times and the lead changed seven times.

LSU finishes its season with a final record of 33-3 while Baylor, now 32-3, advances to the championship game to face the winner of Tennessee and Michigan State.

Notes: Temeka Johnson moved into fifth-place on the NCAA career assist list during the game, passing Old Dominion’s Ticha Penicheiro…..Seimone Augustus scored in double figures for the 62nd straight game.