Right now, no one is better than LSU defensively so it really should come as no surprise they stomped out any ember the NC-Asheville Bulldogs had glowing.  Even amid the recent, albeit controversial firing of LSU's head coach Pokey Chatman, this seasoned LSU squad put to rest any doubts they couldn't do their job. But remember this is after all a #3 seed against a #14. Yes, I know we've seen an upset very close to that seeding happen, but LSU going down is another story.

LSU coach Bob Starkey basically turned the cruise control on and let the players do what they do best...PLAY. He made sure all twelve players were on the floor during the first half.  LSU shot 43.9% from the field, 50% in treys and were 90.9% at the line. Guards Quianna Chaney and RaShonta LeBlanc each contributed 15 points with Erica LeBlanc providing an additional ten to the final score 77-39. 

UNC-Asheville turned the ball over 25 times, 15 of which were forced by LSU in the first half. The Bulldogs shot 27.3% from the field, 26.3% in treys and 33.3% from the charity stripe. UNC-Asheville guards, Kyla Jones and Katie Baldwin each scored seven points. "We don't like to get beat like that," UNC-Asheville coach Betsy Blose said. "Obviously, they are a better team. We haven't seen pressure like that all year and it totally disrupted us. Games like this test your character and it's hard to keep your composure."

LSU guard Eric White summed it up best when she said: "We came out and played the way we played all year. "Nobody in our locker room was surprised by that."

Final Four Potential:  "Defensively they are the cream of the crop, the best of the best. They're great, so much offense by their defense." LSU right now has to show improvement offensively to get to the final four." -- Van Chancelor.

Up Next: West Virginia (#11), Monday, March 19, 2007 at 9:30 p.m. televised on ESPN2