LSU 69, Louisiana Tech 63

By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) Temeka Johnson and Sue Gunter could see just fine without their glasses and their first trip to the Final Four is definitely in sight.

Johnson had eight points, nine assists and eight rebounds despite two broken bones near her right eye, and Aiysha Smith scored 19 points as top-seeded LSU beat Louisiana Tech 69-63 on Sunday in the West Regional semifinals.

Gunter, LSU's Hall of Fame coach, is on the brink of her first Final Four after nearly four decades in the profession. The Tigers didn't get going against their fellow Louisiana power until they trailed by 17 points early in the second half, but it was easy for Gunter to forget those struggles.

``I forgot my glasses, so I really haven't seen the stat sheet,'' Gunter said. ``It doesn't matter. I hear we won.''

The Tigers' fortunes changed in the second half when Johnson, their sparkplug point guard and the SEC tournament MVP, catalyzed a 16-0 rally with her scoring, defense and playmaking. She wore goggles to protect her face in the first half, but they kept fogging up and she discarded them in time to lead the Tigers to the win.

Freshman Seimone Augustus scored 14 points for the Tigers (30-3), who took the lead for good with 4{ minutes left, then snapped the fifth-seeded Lady Techsters' 29-game winning streak with fearless scoring down the stretch.

``I don't like to be down, honestly especially by as much as we were down,'' Augustus said.

The Tigers also earned Bayou State superiority, even if the game was played way out in California.

Two-time WAC player of the year Cheryl Ford finished her career with 16 points and 15 rebounds for Louisiana Tech (31-3), which hadn't lost since Dec. 4. Trina Frierson scored 18 points, but the Lady Techsters lost their momentum early in the second half and never got it back as LSU shot better than 56 percent after halftime.

``I think we defended them as well as they've been defended all year,'' Louisiana Tech coach Kurt Budke said. ``Stamina probably had something to do with it at the end. I believe they have 10 athletes as good as anyone in the country.''

LSU will make its third regional final appearance Tuesday, when it faces Texas (28-5). The Longhorns defeated Minnesota 73-60 on Sunday night. Gunter has 681 career victories, but the 61-year-old coach lost her two previous appearances in a regional final.

Johnson's availability for the weekend's games was in question after she took an elbow in the face last week in the Tigers' second-round game.

Johnson wore one-piece goggles early in the game, but she discarded them midway through the first half as her shooting woes mounted. She went 1-for-8 from the field in the first half, and her struggles were the primary reason for Louisiana Tech's 33-23 halftime lead.

Karl Malone, Ford's famous father, made the trip during a two-day break in the Utah Jazz's season to support his alma mater and his daughter. The NBA's second-leading career scorer sipped lemonade and stood up to shout at the officials as Louisiana Tech pulled ahead with Ford's powerful inside play.

``We played a great game, but they definitely had a little more depth on the bench,'' Ford said.

Afterward, Ford spent several minutes quietly sobbing on Malone's shoulder in a hallway.

LSU was disorganized and lifeless, trailing 50-33 until Doneeka Hodges and Smith hit tough shots to start the Tigers' impressive run. Augustus scored consecutive baskets with eight minutes to play, cutting Louisiana Tech's lead to a point.

Gunter believes that when tourney time rolls around, the Tigers draw confidence from their difficult regular-season schedule.

``There was no genius at halftime,'' Gunter said. ``It was about where we've been. The way we played game in and game out, and who we play darn, there better be some benefits from it. We get taken to the wire every night.''

The Tigers took their first lead on a layup by Johnson, who scored six of her eight points in succession. Her jumper with 4:32 left gave LSU a lead it never lost.

It was just the second meeting in the last 12 years between Louisiana's perennial basketball powers. Maples Pavilion was less than half-full when the game began, but the traveling fans and the locals both cheered a well-played game in the second half.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)