Ah, karma.
Four days after a balky clock got stuck at 0.2 and allowed Tennessee to beat Rutgers on two free throws, 59-58, LSU rebounded from a 21-2 deficit to deal the Vols their worst conference loss at home since 1985.
LSU didn’t just win, the Tigers went for the Tennessee jugular with its stifling defense and forced 15 steals in the 88-62 victory. LSU shot 60 percent to Tennessee’s 28.6 percent in the second half. For the first time in team history, six LSU players scored in double figures, led by 6-6 center Sylvia Fowles with 17 points and 14 rebounds. The win puts LSU atop the SEC as the only conference unbeaten and will surely wipe Tennessee from the No. 1 spot.
Yeah, you know what they say about payback.
Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said earlier in the week that her team was physically and emotionally spent after the Rutgers game.
“I can’t figure this group out,” she said after the LSU game. “We got a win over Rutgers. They went in understanding that we could win the league tonight if we took care of business. That didn’t seem to matter
very much.”
Hey, you can’t fight karma.
Here’s a piece of justice: After the post-game foul on Monday handed the game to Tennessee, LSU on Thursday took advantage of 17 Tennessee fouls in the second half, sinking 17 of 26 at the line.
Somewhere in New Jersey, C. Vivian Stringer and her Scarlet Knights must be smiling.