Courtside Blog: #7 LSU vs. #24 Middle Tennessee - Live at the PMAC

 BILL MARTIN (11/18/09)

8:37 p.m.
LSU still in control with a 50-32 lead with 7:20 remaining in the game. MTSU shooting only 32 percent from the floor. LSU has 28 points off turnovers.

8:18 p.m.
LSU opened the second half with the first five points on a 3-pointer by Latear Eason and a layup from Turnbow. However, the Blue Raiders are on an 8-2 run since and have cut the lead to 42-23 with 15:21 to play.

Halftime
No. 7 LSU held one of the nation’s highest scoring teams to 15 points in the first half, and sophomore forward Taylor Turnbow led all scorers with 11 points as the Lady Tigers hold a 35-15 advantage on No. 24 Middle Tennessee at halftime. MTSU’s Alysha Clark, the nation’s leading returning scorer, was held to just five points on 2-of-8 shooting. Turnbow grabbed seven rebounds – four of the offensive variety – as LSU outrebounded the Blue Raiders 21-14 in the first 20 minutes. LSU outscored Middle Tennessee 22-5 in the final 11:48 of the period. The Lady Tigers used a 12-0 run during a span of four minutes to extend out to big advantage after the score was 13-10 with 12:02 on the clock.

7:43 p.m.
LSU has outscored Middle Tennessee, 18-2, in the last eight minutes. Allison Hightower has seven points during the spurt. MTSU's only basket during the time came on a layup with 6:43 remaining in the first half. It's LSU 31 MTSU 12 at the final official timeout with 2:45 to play.

7:34 p.m.
Taylor Turnbow has taken over on the boards. She has five boards -- four of the offensive variety. Turnbow leads LSU with seven points as the Lady Tigers are on a 12-0 run and lead 25-10 with 7:18 to go in the first half.

7:15 p.m.
LSU leads 13-10 with 11:48 to go in the first half. Allison Hightower will be going to the line for three shots and her first points of the game after this timeout as she was fouled on an attempt that nearly went in on the right wing. The Lady Tigers are 6-of-14 from the floor right now for 42.9 percent. Katherine Graham has buried a pair of mid-range jumpers for four points. MTSU's Alysha Clark, the nation's leading scorer, has five points. Eight of LSU's 13 points have come off turnovers.

6:42 p.m.
We are nearing tipoff for one of the season's top non-conference matchups between No. 7 LSU and No. 24 Middle Tennessee here at the PMAC. We will be blogging for you courtside and give you updates as the game progresses.

Let's take a look at tonight's starting lineups. Head coach Van Chancellor will go with the same lineup he used in the Centenary game:

LSU (1-0)
F - #22 Courtney Jones

F - #35 Taylor Turnbow
G - #1 Katherine Graham
G - #23 Allison Hightower
G - #3 Latear Eason

Middle Tennessee (1-0)
G - #00 Chelsia Lymon

G - #10 Jackie Pickel
F - #21 Brandi Brown
F - #22 Alysha Clark
G - #30 Anne Marie Lanning

Posted by Bill Martin