Last night, I went to my first LSU basketball game of the season—the last home game for the Lady Tigers. The game featured my favorite women's basketball rivalry: the LSU Lady Tigers vs. the Tennessee Vols. 

I sat among 6,000 fans as we watched a bleak beginning to a much anticipated game—in the first ten attempted shots from both teams resulted in a deadlock at 0-0. LSU made the first basket and drove an amazing first half, relaxing fans as if to say, "We've got this in the bag."

One thing's for sure, Candace Parker is long gone from the Vols...and it shows. In the first half, Tennessee spent a lot of time doing tricks with the ball—passing it behind their backs, faking shots, but they hardly tried to get the ball IN the hoop. At the half, LSU lead 35-20. 

The Lady Tigers must've eaten a turkey in the locker room, because their start of the second half was horrendous. No. 18 Vols were out for blood. In Tiger defense, LSU was missing junior guard Allison Hightower, who scored 14 points in the first half. Tennessee quit the ball-handling skills and actually started shooting and scoring 3-pointers. 

While the Vols never got a lead in the game, they tied it up three times. The game got tense when they tied at 51 with 8:30 left in the game. After back and forth scoring, the game was saved when sophomore guard Katherine Graham scored two free throws with seven seconds remaining—Tampa 2008, anyone?

This time, LSU was able to block any last minute buzzer shots from the Vols, making the final score 63-61. The win marks their fourth straight victory and secures a bye in next week's SEC Tournament. 

The Lady Tigers play the Ole Miss Rebels this Sunday, in Oxford.