No. 8 LSU 52, Tulane 36

12/2/2007 7:25 PM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -Van Chancellor was impressed with his team's stifling defense.

Sylvia Fowles scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help No. 8 LSU cruise to an easy 52-36 win over Tulane on Sunday.

Despite shooting only 30 percent in the first half, the Lady Tigers took a 22-10 halftime lead after the Green Wave went scoreless until Chassity Brown sank a 15-foot jumper with 9:53 left in the first half.

``That was the most dominating defense performance in the first 34 minutes of basketball that I have seen,'' Chancellor said. ``Anytime you can limit a team to 10 points in the first half is impressive.''

Allison Hightower added 15 points for LSU (6-2).

Niki Luckhurst led Tulane (6-2) with nine points.

LSU had its largest lead, 45-19, with 6:16 left to play before Tulane closed the game with a 17-7 run.

Mesha Williams and Ashley Thomas each had seven rebounds for LSU.

Tulane shot only 18 percent in the first half and 30 percent in the second half. LSU shot 41 percent in second half.

Chancellor said the offense wasn't as bad as the statistics indicated.

``Nothing else, we just missed shots. We executed our offense just outstanding and could not make a shot,'' he said.

The Green Wave's early problems were aggravated when Brittany Lindsey was sent to the bench early in the first half because of foul trouble. Considered by Tulane coach Lisa Stockton as a team leader, Lindsey scored only four points.

``When you hold a Top 10 team to 22 points in the first half, you feel like should be in it,'' Stockton said. ``We just couldn't put the ball in the basket.''

The Lady Tigers will take two weeks off for final exams. LSU's next game is Dec. 16 at Louisiana Tech.