LSU Gets a Rare SEC Victory at Tennessee

Third-ranked Louisiana State is the new team to beat in the Southeastern Conference.

The Tigers became the first SEC team to win at Tennessee in nearly 10 years with a 72-69 victory Thursday night and moved closer to a second straight regular-season league title.

Seimone Augustus scored 32 points, Scholanda Hoston added 18 and Sylvia Fowles had 10 points and 15 rebounds for LSU (21-1, 9-0).

The fifth-ranked Lady Vols (21-3, 7-2) had not lost a league game in Thompson-Boling Arena since a loss to Georgia on Dec. 8, 1996, a span of 64 games. LSU was 0-16 in Knoxville.

“Right now my thoughts aren’t so much about ending the home-court streak as just getting ready for Vanderbilt” on Sunday, Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt said. “It’s not a time for us to be feeling sorry for ourselves. We did a lot of good things, particularly in the second half. We have to get back tomorrow and keep things pointed in the right direction.”

The Lady Vols won seven consecutive SEC regular-season crowns until last year when LSU beat Tennessee in Baton Rouge to earn its first title.

But the Lady Vols got revenge by beating then-No. 1 LSU, 67-65, to win the SEC tournament championship.

The Lady Vols have lost two league games for the first time since 1996-97 when they were 8-4.

“This conference doesn’t allow you to enjoy it a whole lot because you know there’s a talented Georgia team that got to sit home and rest,” LSU Coach Pokey Chatman said. “It has to be huge for the players to come in here and play against a quality opponent like Tennessee.”