HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University women's basketball team defeated the LSUA Lady Generals in the University Center Monday evening at the season opener in Hammond, America.
Southeastern (1-0) won the tip off and started out solid with an early basket by
Hailey Giaratano. The Lady Lions dominated the first quarter and were able to keep LSUA (0-3) to only four points within the first ten minutes.
Freshman Jalencia "Jen" Pierre made her debut on the Southeastern hardwood with a phenomenal play late in the first quarter getting her first bucket as a Lady Lion. The first quarter ended with Southeastern leading 15-4.
The second quarter began with a missed jump shot by
Natalie Kelly that was rebounded by Alex Harrison. Harrison wouldn't get the shot in either as
Alexius Horne rebounded. Finally, with 8:30 left in the first half, Horne sinks in a three pointer with an assist by Giaratano, bringing up the score 18-4.
As the first half was winding down, Pierre was able to put in a lay-up, after a successful jump shot and layup down by Lady Generals Harrison and Jewel Jones that made the score 29-8.
The half ended with a turnover by Raegan Ojoro after a missed jumper by
Jaylen Huderson.
The second half started with LSUA Harrison shooting a three pointer that ended up coming off the rim. Southeastern quickly brought the ball down the court and gained command of the ball with a quick lay up by
Taylor Bell with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
LSUA was able to get a basket in quickly after, making the score 40-14. The Lady Lions came back with a steal by Bell at midcourt that resulted in an offensive foul. LSUA was able to get another bucket on the board but nothing would stop the Lady Lions from putting up three pointers, one being by Giaratano with three minutes and 19 seconds left in the third quarter.
Bell stole the ball and handed it back to the Lady Lions which resulted in a successful lay up by
Chrissy Brown with two minutes and some change left in the third. The score grew to a 31-point lead over the Lady Generals.
Daija Harvey scored a three pointer, bringing the lead up to 53-16 with a minute 45 left in the third. Brown also sank a three pointer with 20 seconds left in the third quarter.
Within the first 30 seconds, Horne posted a two pointer that was quickly answered with an LSUA lay-up, bringing the score up to 60-40. With five minutes left in the game, freshman
Allasia Washington made her first basket as a Lady Lion, making the score 68-22. The Lady Generals attempted to connect with the net but weren't able to increase the score by anything in the last four minutes of the fourth, until Jewel Jones made both foul shots, bringing the score up to 68-24.
Washington was able to steal the ball and bring it in for a lay up with a minute and 51 seconds left in the game, bringing the lead up to a 45-point deficit for LSUA.
With a minute remaining, LSUA struggled to get a basket in to lessen the deficit but were unable to due Southeastern's impeccable defense in the paint. The Lady Generals were able to get a foul where Jones made both with a little over 30 seconds left in the game.
Taylor Dupree, a red shirt freshman, scored the last basket of the game for the Lady Lions, ending the game with a 73-27 victory, the first victory of the 2022-23 season for sixth year head coach
Ayla Guzzardo.
"We shared the ball well, we had a lot of assists. We don't want to play selfish and at some points, we played a little too selfless. We have to make sure that we are doing the right thing every possession." Coach Guzzardo said when asked about her offense and being able to get the points on the board.
The player of the game was
Hailey Giaratano with 16 points, three assists, two steals and four rebounds. Horne came in at a close second with 10 points, five assists and five rebounds.
Amani Gray led LSUA with six points, four rebounds and one assist.
Next up the Southeastern Lady Lions head to Logan, Utah to take on the Utah State Aggies at 4 pm central time, Friday Nov. 11. The game can be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats can be accessed on the SLU women's basketball schedule at www.LionSports.net.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Women's Basketball, follow @LionUpWBB on Twitter, like SoutheasternWBB on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit
www.LionSports.net/clear.
