Middle Tennessee 67, No. 8 LSU 56

12/28/2007 9:01 PM

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ
Associated Press Writer

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) -Amber Holt scored a career-high 41 points and added nine rebounds to help Middle Tennessee upset No. 8 LSU 67-56 on Friday night.

Holt finished one shy of the school record for most points in a game, which was set by Kim Webb in 1987 against Eastern Kentucky.

The senior guard finished 15-for-25 from the floor for Middle Tennessee (7-5), which snapped the Lady Tigers' (9-3) six-game winning streak. Holt's previous career high came earlier this season, when she scored 33 points in Middle Tennessee's win over Austin Peay.

Brandi Brown had eight points, and Johnna Abney added five to give the Blue Raiders their first win over a ranked opponent this season. Middle Tennessee improved to 3-31 against teams ranked in top 10 of The AP Poll.

Allison Hightower led LSU with 13 points, and Quianna Chaney added 11 points and six rebounds.

The Lady Tigers struggled in their first game this season without All-American center Sylvia Fowles, who injured her right knee last Wednesday in the second half of LSU's win over Miami in Cancun, Mexico.

The Blue Raiders stretched their lead to 42-32 with 11:40 to play on a layup by Starr Orr. The Lady Tigers then went on a 17-7 run that tied the game at 49, and took a 54-53 lead on Chaney's third 3-pointer of the game with 4:32 left.

But Holt was too much, answering back with a 3-pointer to help Middle Tennessee go back ahead 56-54. With Fowles out, LSU couldn't stop the physical guard.

The Lady Tigers will have to find away to play without their senior shot blocker, who will miss two to four weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her knee. Fowles, who has led LSU to three straight Final Four appearances, did not make the trip to Murfreesboro.

In Fowles' absence, LSU tried to play an up-tempo game and create shots from the perimeter.

It didn't work.

The Lady Tigers struggled early to find their rhythm. Missing breakaway layups and uncontested shots, LSU made just four of its first 20 attempts from the field as Middle Tennessee took a 13-10 lead.

Except for Holt, the Blue Raiders also couldn't find their stroke.

Holt scored 17 points in the first half for Middle Tennessee, helping the Blue Raiders go ahead 25-22 at the break. Besides Holt, Middle Tennessee started just 1-for-13 shooting.

The 22 points in the first half tied a season low for LSU. The Lady Tigers also had just 22 points in the opening half against Tulane.