Hard to tell a lot about a team when they are blowing out the oppostion by 60 points. The NWBL team featured recent LSU alum and WNBA star Ayisha SMith and former Washington Huskie, Jamie Redd. Other than taking the early lead, this team didn't provide muc competition. Augustus was predictably great in getting 21 points in 21 minutes and drilled her first shot, a three pointer (remember that this game was played featuring an extended three point line). She also had 7 boards and 3 steals. Temeka Johnson had 18 points and 5 assists in her 21 minutes of play. Doneeka Hodges had 7 points and 10 assists. If anything impressive can be taken from this game it was in the play of the frosh. Marian Whitfield and Khalilah Mitchell were relentless defenders and each played for 20 minutes. Mitchell had 7 points and 3 steals and Whitfield had 18 points and 4 steals. These two were like swarming shocks at the end of the game. Hanna Biernakka had 7 points and 4 rebounds. No big surprise that LSU does not have a lot of size up front, especially with Crystal White and Wendolyn Jones out of the line-up until later. Florence Williams scored in double digits from her forward position but the opposition still outboarded LSU. Against more powerful SEC teams, LSU is going to have to find a way to improve thier rebounding. When you have teams like Kentucky with Helms, Florida with Hayden, Vandy with Benningfield and Georgia with its legion of posts players, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see where Sue is going to have to learn to compensate for lack of size. I don't think Tillie Willis or Tryenell Clavelle are the answers (6ppg, 2rpg and 8 ppg, 2 rpg) are the answer.
Sue wasn't as happy with the second exhibition game noting lack of consistency from the team, even though they beat the Latvian team 91-57. As usual, Seimone led the team in scoring but what was most noteworthy was that LSU outhustled the taller Latvian team on the boards. Tillie Willis and Schlanda Hoston each recorded double-doubles as they led the rebounding charge. Until Crystal White and Wendolyn Jones are set to return, rebounding is going to have to be a major focus of all five players on the floor.
