Tuesday, Feb. 1 8:00pm ET
Ferdinand leads LSU with 19 points
 
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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- Sue Gunter is a tough audience. Even a 37-point victory isn't enough for the LSU coach.

What concerned Gunter was that the Tigers (17-3) rolled to a 31-3 lead while shooting 67 percent only to slump in the second half.

"The game was less than inspiring," Gunter said. "In a way we accomplished what we wanted to in that a lot of people got to play. The starters got some rest. We didn't play as well as we would have liked to. I still expect that when our bench is in the game that there not be much of a dropoff."

Marie Ferdinand scored 19 points for LSU (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 7 Associated Press), which led 37-11 at halftime. Katrina Hibbert added 13.

LSU spread at least seven minutes of playing time to all 11 players on its roster, resulting in a balanced but somewhat lackluster second-half attack by LSU's standards.

Centenary's first field goal of the game came about midway through the first half when Prudence Garrison, who led Centenary (0-20) with 10 points, scored from inside.

LSU then reeled off an 8-0 run for a 31-3 lead.

LSU's starters were on the bench for the final eight minutes of the first half.

Centenary's 11 first-half points was the fewest by an LSU opponent since Florida's record-low 10 on Feb. 22, 1986.

"LSU's first five weren't on the floor very much," Centenary coach John Raff said. "They're athletic with good size and they shoot it well from the perimeter."

In the second half, LSU widened its lead to 45-15, on a putback by April Brown with 14:39 left.

Centenary trailed by at least 30 thereafter. LSU's lead reached 37 on several occasions.

LSU held Centenary to 29.5 percent shooting and forced 31 turnovers.

The 30 points by Centenary was the fewest scored against LSU this season.

 


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