Coaches talk all the time about their players playing games in intervals or chapters.
The first several opening chapters of LSU women's basketball's Bahamas trip against Washington were nothing to write home about. But how the No. 7 Tigers finished the final two minutes of the third quarter, with an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to four, was the turning point they needed.
LSU , which trailed by as many as 15 in the first period, outscored the Huskies 28 to 17 the rest of the way to write off a scary opener at the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship tournament with a thrilling 68-67 win Monday.
Sophomore Kailyn Gilbert collected a loose ball with 6 seconds remaining, streaked to the basket and got the member's roll to hit the game winner.
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Finishing at the rim has been a strength for the Tigers (7-0) in the opening stretch of this season. But contending with Washington's size inside, scorers like star Flau'jae Johnson, who is known for her ability to hit tough layups, had a hard time getting layups to fall. LSU made just over half of its shots at the rim (14 for 26). The Huskies made 9 of 14 layups.
Coming into Monday's game, LSU sophomore sensation Mikaylah Williams was the team's third leading scorer averaging 16 points per game.
The Huskies did a good job of limiting Williams but her shot just did not fall. Williams missed a few open looks as she finished with no points.
If Williams was able to score just half her average, LSU could've beaten Washington far more comfortably.
Johnson finished with 19 points in the win but she scored seven in the final quarter. She collected three steals in the last 10 minutes and she had the game-sealing takeaway.
How LSU's star impacted the game on both ends of the floor was the catalyst for the Tigers' comeback. But that's something Johnson has been doing for the Tigers for some time. She led LSU's rally back in the Sweet 16 last season in the NCAA tournament.
What she did defensively was beneficial for Johnson and her team as she didn't have quite as an efficient day scoring the ball as she's had through the first six games of the season.
LSU will face No. 10 North Carolina State on Wednesday. Tip off will be at 12:30 p.m.
NC State beat Southern 77-47 in its first game in the Bahamas.
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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU women's basketball rallies, wins thriller over Washington
