LSU Shreveport pulls away early, knocks off Xavier (LA) 79-68 in RRAC women’s tournament play

LSU Shreveport used a hot shooting night and a dominant effort on the glass to defeat Xavier (La.) 79-68 on Saturday afternoon in the Red River Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament at Laborde Earles Coliseum in Alexandria, La.

The Pilots seized control early, opening a 26-21 lead after the first quarter and stretching the margin to 45-32 by halftime behind efficient offense and a 53.4% performance from the field for the game. Xavier mounted a push after the break, outscoring LSU Shreveport 18-14 in the third quarter to trim the deficit to 59-50 entering the fourth, but the Pilots answered with a steady closing frame, edging the Gold Nuggets 20-18 over the final 10 minutes to secure the 11-point victory.

LSU Shreveport’s balance and efficiency were decisive. The Pilots finished 31-of-58 from the floor and 7-of-19 from 3-point range, pairing that with a 35-25 rebounding advantage that limited Xavier’s second-chance opportunities. While LSU Shreveport turned the ball over 21 times, three more than Xavier’s 18, the Pilots offset that with a 34-24 edge in points in the paint and a 7-1 advantage in second-chance points.

Guard Selma Markisic led LSU Shreveport with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, while adding three assists and a game-high five steals in 35 minutes. Ally Fleenor provided an efficient spark, scoring 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and going 2-of-2 at the foul line without committing a turnover. Forward Paula Gonzalez Herrero added 10 points, seven rebounds and a block, helping the Pilots control the interior and secure key defensive boards.

Xavier stayed within reach behind a strong outing from guard Alicia Blanton, who scored a game-high 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Blanton went a perfect 2-of-2 from 3-point range and contributed four rebounds, three assists and four steals, though she was limited to 6-of-13 at the free-throw line. Jaleah Lafargue added 10 points and nearly recorded a double-double, finishing with eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block in 33 minutes as one of Xavier’s most active two-way contributors.

The Gold Nuggets shot a solid 43.8% from 3-point range (7-of-16) and generated 23 points off turnovers, using their pressure defense to hang around despite shooting 39.3% overall from the field. However, Xavier managed just one second-chance point on eight offensive rebounds and went 17-of-29 at the free-throw line, missing opportunities to close the gap in the second half after cutting the deficit to single digits.

With the win, LSU Shreveport advances in the Red River Athletic Conference women’s tournament, riding an efficient offensive performance and firm control of the boards. Xavier exits after a competitive showing built on perimeter shooting and defensive pressure, but ultimately undone by LSU Shreveport’s interior scoring and rebounding edge in the neutral-site matchup.