LSU Women’s Basketball vs. Ohio State: Preview and Prediction

LSU women’s basketball team was the star of the past weekend for LSU basketball and loyal Tigers fans. Now, the third-seeded Lady Tigers have the chance to take another step forward into the Sweet 16 against the 6th-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes.

The game promises to be a good one as both teams have been hot and feature dynamic backcourts. However, as Tim Buckley of The Daily Advertiser writes, the game could well be decided in the paint for LSU:

"[T]he X-factor could [be] LSU’s bigs. Center Faustine Aifuwa had 17 points and 14 rebounds Saturday, but starting forward Autumn Newby was scoreless in 24 minutes. If those two take advantage of their size in the paint, it could be a huge difference-maker."

The game tips off at 7:00 PM Central from the Maravich Center in Baton Rouge and will be aired on ESPN 2 and LSU Sports Radio.

Records

LSU: 25-6, won 9 of the last 10

Ohio State: 24-6, won 9 of the last 11

Last Game

LSU defeated 14-seed Jackson State, 83-77

Ohio State defeated 11-seed Missouri State, 63-56

The Line

LSU -4

Over/Under: 142

Key Stats

LSU averages 74.2 points per game and surrenders 65.6 points per game.

Ohio State averages 78.6 points per game and surrenders 61.3 points per game.

When LSU scores 67 points or more, the Lady Tigers are 17-3.

When Ohio State scores 61 points or more, the Buckeyes are 19-3.

LSU’s Khayla Pointer averages 19.3 points per game.

Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon averages 19.7 points per game.

Prediction

I expect the Lady Tigers to come out all business against the Buckeyes after surviving a scare from Jackson State.

Ohio State is a dangerous team with a bevy of stars, but LSU’s home-court advantage, potential to be explosive in the paint, and experience winning tight games against ranked foes should prove to be the difference. LSU basketball guts out a tough one.

LSU 72, Ohio State 71

Laissez les bons temps rouler.