LSUS Advances in Commanding Fashion, Defeats OLLU 84-41

SHREVEPORT, La. – Top-seeded LSU Shreveport delivered a dominant performance Tuesday night at The Dock, cruising past Our Lady of the Lake University, 84-41, in the RRAC Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal.

From the opening tip, the Pilots set the tone defensively. Katie Ambrose scored the game's first points on a layup just 19 seconds in, and LSUS never looked back. Amandine L'Etang followed with a three-pointer, and a relentless defensive effort fueled a 23-4 first-quarter advantage. The Saints did not make a field goal in the opening period, managing just four free throws.

LSUS carried that momentum into the second quarter, extending the lead to 43-12 at halftime. The Pilots shot 54.8 percent (34-of-62) from the floor and held OLLU to just 21.4 percent (12-of-56). The defensive pressure forced 24 Saints turnovers, which LSUS converted into 34 points.

Selma Markisic led all scorers with 25 points and four rebounds, knocking down key shots throughout each quarter to keep the Saints at bay. Paula Gonzalez Herrero added 14 points, two steals, and one block, while Toni Coleman recorded a dominant double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Coleman also contributed five assists, two steals, and two blocks in a well-rounded performance.

Katie Ambrose finished with 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while Ally Fleenor controlled the glass with eight rebounds. Celina Vilcinskas added seven boards and scored late, including the final bucket of the game.

In a historic moment, Amandine L'Etang broke the LSUS single-season blocks record, finishing with five blocks on the night to bring her season total to 73.

The Pilots outscored the Saints 50-12 in the paint and 19-4 in fastbreak points, showcasing their ability to dominate inside and in transition. LSUS built its largest lead of 46 points midway through the fourth quarter before emptying the bench.

Our Lady of the Lake was led by Alexandra Westerdijk Martin with 16 points and five rebounds. Shayla Dede added nine points and four rebounds, while Macie Moss chipped in five points.

With the win, the Pilots improve to 25-4 overall and advance to Alexandria for the semifinal round on Saturday, Feb. 28. LSUS will face the winner of No. 5 seed LSU Alexandria and No. 4 seed Xavier.