Lady Tigers dominate Florida

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Senior guard Allison Hightower scored a game-high 19 points, and LSU's daunting defense held Florida to 19.6 percent shooting as the 23rd-ranked Lady Tigers snapped a two-game losing streak with a 70-30 win over the Gators on Thursday night at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

LSU (16-7, 5-6 Southeastern Conference) defeated Florida for the fourth consecutive time dating back to 2007. All four of the victories have come by double-digits. The Lady Tigers held the Gators to their lowest point total in series history, eclipsing the previous low of 34 in 1986.

Florida (13-11, 6-5) lost for just the second time in the past five games after entering Thursday's play with a share of third place in the SEC standings. The Gators finished with their lowest point total of the SEC season.

"We played extremely well tonight," LSU head coach Van Chancellor said. "We have pushed the team for a few days and we came in here ready to play. Florida was third in the league and playing well. We jumped out on them and cut off everything they tried to do offensively tonight. That might have been the best defense we've had all year."

After surrendering over 100 points in the first time since 1997, the SEC's No. 1 defense returned to form as LSU held Florida to its lowest field goal percentage of the season and its fewest point total in series history. It was the lowest point total by an SEC opponent on the Lady Tigers since LSU allowed

Hightower finished 8-of-13 from the floor and 3-of-3 from 3-point range with three steals in 22 minutes. The SEC Preseason Player of the Year played only two minutes in the second half but was lifted during a 7-0 run to start the period that put the game out of reach.

LaSondra Barrett and Courtney Jones each chipped in 11 points, and freshman Adrienne Webb came off the bench for a career-high 13 points on 3-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. Florida did not have a player register double-figures in scoring.

Posted by Bill Martin