Lady Vols fourth quarter misery continues in stunning loss to LSU
The Lady Vols are going to drop out of the AP Poll for the first time in over 30 years.
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The Lady Vols cannot seem to escape their season-long fourth-quarter blues.
Poor shooting and mental mistakes were the theme all afternoon for both squads. In the end, the LSU Tigers were able to convert free throws when needed, and hold on for a stunning 57-56 victory.
The Tigers (9-18, 3-11) were led by Alexis Hyder, who scored 17 points.
The Lady Vols were assisted by guard Te’a Cooper early on. The freshmen scored the team’s first seven points and made three of her first five shot attempts, but would not score a point for the remainder of the contest, missing her final ten shots.
LSU was able to gain momentum in the second quarter, using a 12-0 run to gain the 28-18 halftime edge.
After scoring only two points in the first half, Lady Vols’ guard Diamond DeShields took the game over in the third quarter. DeShields opened the frame with back-to-back baskets that got the Lady Vols within five. DeShields led all scorers with 19 points, including 17 in the second half on 7-of-12 shooting.
Tennessee took a 35-33 lead later in the quarter, but consecutive three-pointers by Jenna Deemer put the Tigers up by four.
The game’s pace picked up dramatically in the final quarter. The Lady Vols were able to battle back from a 47-43 deficit to tie the game. Once a DeShields jumper put Tennessee up 52-49 with 46 seconds left in the game, the Lady Vol blunders began.
Tennessee failed to box out on a horribly-missed Deemer three-point attempt, allowing Ann Jones to put the miss back and cut the Lady Vol lead to one. Tennessee went on to miss five of its nine ensuing free throw attempts, including two by Mercedes Russell in the final five seconds that gave the Tigers an opportunity to win the game.
The biggest blunder occurred after the second miss. Guard Andraya Carter fouled Hyder, who calmly sank both free throws to give LSU the 57-56 win.
With the loss, the Lady Vols fall to 16-11 and are now 7-7 in the SEC.
Tennessee travels to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide this Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Featured image by the Tennessee Journalist
Edited by Cody McClure
Follow me @DavidJBradford1 on Twitter, email me at dbradfo2@vols.utk.edu for any questions.
