BATON ROUGE, La. โ In an impressive showing, transfer forward Jersey Wolfenbarger made a significant impact in her first start of the season, contributing 18 points and 15 rebounds as No. 4 LSU defeated Louisiana-Lafayette with an 85-57 scoreline on Sunday.
With this win, LSU improved its record to 12-0, featuring five players who scored in double digits. Senior Aneesah Morrow matched Wolfenbargerโs performance with 15 points and also grabbed 15 boards. Reserve guard Kailyn Gilbert contributed 14 points, while the starting lineup included Mikaylah Williams with 12 points and FlauโJae Johnson adding 11 points.
On the other side, Louisiana-Lafayette, now at 4-4, saw its leading scorer Tamiah Robinson shine with 15 points, hitting 4-of-7 attempts from beyond the arc. Erica Lafayette, a recent transfer from Rutgers, chipped in with 12 points of her own.
The Tigers built upon their halftime advantage of 36-19, as Wolfenbarger scored a layup and added a couple of free throws, complemented by a jumper from Williams, quickly boosting the score to 42-22 just two minutes into the third quarter.
One of the main differences in the game was Louisiana-Lafayetteโs struggle to penetrate LSUโs defensive front. The Raginโ Cajuns predominantly relied on their perimeter shooting, but their 3-point success was limited to just seven baskets out of 21 attempts while being significantly outmatched in the paint with a 36-12 score.
LSU reaffirmed its status as the nationโs leading rebounding team, dominating the glass with a remarkable 53 to 22 advantage, primarily thanks to the efforts of Wolfenbarger and Morrow.
The momentum shifted significantly midway through the second quarter, as LSU went on a 14-3 run, transforming a close 20-13 game into a commanding 34-16 lead with just 1:32 remaining in the first half.
Although LSU typically averages 14 turnovers per game, they struggled with ball security this time, reaching 17 turnovers by halftime and finishing with a total of 21.
Looking ahead, LSU will take on Seton Hall this Tuesday in the Basketball Hall of Fame Womenโs Showcase in Uncasville, Connecticut, while Louisiana-Lafayette is set to host Auburn on Wednesday.