Tiger trouncing: LSU topples OSU

The third-ranked Tigers never trailed after the opening six minutes.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Seimone Augustus scored six of her 21 points during a 13-point first-half run to lead No. 3 LSU to a 64-48 victory over No. 4 Ohio State on Thursday night.
The Lady Tigers (6-0) never trailed after the opening 6 minutes and their lead never dropped below double figures in the final 24 minutes. They led by as many as 25 points before coasting to the finish.
Sylvia Fowles added a career-high 25 points and 16 rebounds, missing only four of 15 shots from the field. Augustus scored in double figures for the 68th straight game.
The game pitted one of the elite programs in the country -- LSU has made trips to the Final Four the last two years -- against an Ohio State team which has dominated in its region but longs to move into the national hierarchy.
Jessica Davenport led Ohio State (6-1) with 14 points. Brandie Hoskins added 13 points.
Strong defense
LSU took over the game with its defense. The first time down the floor, the Buckeyes got the ball into Davenport's hands and Fowles promptly swatted her shot away. It was a bad omen for an Ohio State offense which is predicated on looking inside to its first-team All-American center.
With the score tied at 10, the Lady Tigers ran off the next 13 points. Augustus got it started with an 18-foot jumper, with Quianna Chaney taking a long pass in transition for a layup. Fowles then scored twice inside off backdoor lob passes, adding a free throw.
Augustus hit another perimeter jumper and scored on a drive to end the spurt.
Ohio State, which had won its last 21 home games, missed seven shots from the field during the drought. Meanwhile, the Tigers looked stronger inside and quicker outside, hitting 6 of 8 from the field.
Taking control
Ahead 33-15 at the half, the Lady Tigers scored seven of the next nine points for a 40-17 lead. The Buckeyes bounced back to cut it to 44-32 -- the 6-foot-5 Davenport even popping outside to hit one of her two 3-pointers.
After a timeout, the Lady Tigers ran off nine points in a row to take control. Fowles was the difference-maker, hitting a follow that turned into a three-point play, and then scoring off another lob over the Ohio State defense to make it 53-32.
Ohio State, which has led the nation in field-goal percentage each of the past two years, shot 33 percent from the field. LSU shot 29-for-55 from the field for 53 percent.
The Buckeyes came in leading the nation in defense, allowing just over 40 points a game, and were first in scoring margin at 38.4 points per game.
It was the fourth meeting between the teams but the first since 1990. LSU has won three of the four matchups.