2008-09 Schedule/Travel Plans

LSU
Table of Contents
3
4
5
6
INTRO
2008 FINAL FOUR
THIS IS LSU
Quick Facts
2008-09 Schedule/Travel Plans
2008-09 Roster
2008-09 Outlook
LADY TIGERS
9
2008 Final Four
COACHES
10
2008 Final Four
133 History
134
141
142
144
145
146
147
148
154
155
156
158
REVIEW
13 This is LSU
RECORDS
14
16
18
19
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
33
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
47
48
49
52
HISTORY
HONORS
LSU
OPPONENTS
MEDIA
Championship Basketball
Campus Life
Campus Apartments
CHAMPS/Community Outreach
Academic Success
Academic Center for Student-Athletes
Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Sue Gunter Complex
LSU Practice Facility
Athletic Training
Strength and Conditioning
Athletics Facilities
National Spotlight
LSU and the WNBA
2008 Beijing Olympics
LSU and USA Basketball
LSU Greats
Prominent LSU Alumni
City of Baton Rouge
State of Louisiana
Andonie Museum
Lady Tigers Timeline
Fast Break Club
159 Honors
160
161
168
170
171
174
176
National Coach/Player of the Year
All-Americans
LSU Honor Roll
First-Team All-SEC
Career 1,000 Point Scorers
Letterwinners
Uniform Numbers
177 LSU
178
180
182
183
184
186
Championship Tradition
University Administration
Athletics Director Joe Alleva
Athletics Administration
Tiger Athletic Foundation
LSU Sports Properties
187 Opponents
53 Players
54
56
58
60
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
Year-by-Year Results
vs. All Opponents
Hall of Famer Sue Gunter
Coaches Records/Final Polls
NCAA Tournament History
NCAA Final Fours
AIAW Runner-up
NCAA Tournament Teams
SEC Championships
SEC Tournament Titles
Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Pack the PMAC
188
189
197
198
Allison Hightower
Kristen Morris
Latear Eason
Katherine Graham
LaSondra Barrett
Swayze Black
Ayana Dunning
Destini Hughes
Courtney Jones
Andrea Kelly
Crystal Riley
Taylor Turnbow
Erica Williams
State Farm Tip-Off Classic
2008-09 Opponents
2009 NCAA Tournament
Opponents Series Records
201 Media
202
204
205
206
207
208
Media Guidelines
Sports Information
LSU Sports Radio Network
LSU Sports Television Network
LSUSports.net
Radio/Television Chart
71 Coaches
72
80
81
82
83
84
Credits
Van Chancellor
Bob Starkey
Kenya Larkin-Landers
Travis Mays
Brittany Dietz/Micki Collins
Melissa Moore/Support Staff
EDITOR: Bill Martin
LAYOUT & DESIGN: Krystal Bennett
Courtney Wilburn
COVER DESIGN: Krystal Bennett
ASSISTANT EDITORS: Kent Lowe
Michael Bonnette
Bill Franques
Kent Lowe
RESEARCH: Amanda Joseph
Molly Clark
85 Review
86
89
92
93
94
95
96
101
102
104
2007-08 Season Recap
NCAA Recap
2007-08 Results
2007-08 Statistics
Team Statistics
Individual and Team Superlatives
2007-08 Box Scores
SEC Standings/Honors
SEC Statistics
2007-08 Honors
PHOTOGRAPHY
Steve Franz, Jason Feirman, Brad Messina, Dennis
Hodges, Elizabeth Oliver, Jesse Garrabant, Garret
Ellwood, Steve Frischling, Jame Schwaberow, Michael
Short, Paul Levy, The Advocate, Travis Spradling, Arthur
D. Lauck, Jennifer Abelson, J.” Rico” Clement, Bill Feig,
Dan Hardesty, Jim Hudelson, LSU Gumbo, Neil Johnson,
Rob Musemeche, Jim Zeitz, Prather Warren, NFL, NBA,
WNBA, Nelson Chenault, Ron Berard, C.C. Lockwood,
Erby Aucoin Jr., Getty Images, USA Basketball
113 Records
114
118
119
120
122
124
126
128
130
131
132
2
Individual Records
Team Records
Team Records/Opponent Records
The Last Time ...
Miscellaneous Records
Year-by-Year Leaders
Leaders by Class
SEC Tournament Records
NCAA Tournament Records
Special Games
Television Games
PRINTING
EBSCO Media - Birmingham, Ala.
PURCHASE AN LSU MEDIA GUIDE:
4 Preorder with your season ticket
order form
4 www.LSUsports.net/mediaguides
4 Purchase from the Tiger Gift Center
2008-2009 LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
© COPYRIGHT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
The 2008-09 LSU Women’s Basketball Media Guide was
written by the LSU Sports Information Office and
designed by the LSU Publications Office on an Apple G5
using QuarkXpress 6.5 and Adobe Photoshop CS3. All
text and photo content is property of Louisiana State
University and LSU Athletics and can not be reproduced
without permission from the LSU Sports Information
Office.
Quick Facts
Where to See and Hear the Lady Tigers ...
LSU
INTRO
2008 FINAL FOUR
THIS IS LSU
LADY TIGERS
COACHES
REVIEW
RECORDS
Cox Sports Television (CST), the exclusive regional network
for LSU sports, broadcasts multiple Lady Tigers’ basketball
games throughout the season CST, which can be seen in
the Baton Rouge area on Cox Cable ch. 37, delivers LSU
athletics to over 2 million viewers in seven states.
The LSU Sports Radio Network brings LSU athletics to LSU
fans across the country with two 50,000-watt clear
channel affiliates and three 100,000-watt FM stations. The
Lady Tigers play on WTGE 107.3 in Baton Rouge.
The Geaux Zone, a subscription based online service on
LSUsports.net, provides live and on-demand video archives
of all women’s basketball games. Audio broadcasts, as well
as the official coaches radio and television shows are also
available.
HISTORY
HONORS
LSU
OPPONENTS
MEDIA
LSU Women’s Basketball Coaching Staff
NAME
POSITION
ALMA MATER
YEAR AT LSU
Van Chancellor
Bob Starkey
Kenya Larkin-Landers
Travis Mays
Brittany Dietz
Head Coach
Associate Head Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Director of Basketball Operations
Mississippi State, 1965
2nd
20th
1st
2nd
1st
Sports Information
Associate AD/SID:
Senior Associate SID:
Associate SID (WBB):
Associate SID:
Associate SID:
Associate SID:
Publications Coordinator:
Graphic Design Coordinator:
Graphic Design Coordinator:
Photography Coordinator:
Administrative Secretary:
Michael Bonnette
Kent Lowe
Bill Martin
Caroline Domecq
Bill Franques
Will Stafford
Jason Feirman
Krystal Bennett
Courtney Wilburn
Steve Franz
Pat Fredericks
Electronic Media
Director of Television:
Manager of Television:
Television Producer:
Kevin Wagner
John Schiebe
David Landry
Media Information
Women’s Basketball SID:
SID Office Phone:
Martin’s Office Phone:
SID Fax:
Martin’s Cell Phone:
Martin’s E-Mail Address:
LSU Website:
Press Row Phone:
SID Mailing Address:
Overnight Address:
LSU '93
LSU-Shreveport '79
LSU ‘07
LSU ‘06
LSU '85
LSU ‘06
LSU '00
LSU '06
LSU ‘08
LSU '93
LSU '80
Oklahoma St. '86
LSU '90
Bill Martin
(225) 578-8226
(225) 578-8204
(225) 578-1861
(225) 270-1665
wmarti4@lsu.edu
www.LSUsports.net
(225) 578-8226
P.O. Box 25095
Baton Rouge, LA 70894-5095
Fifth Floor
Athletics Admin. Building
Nicholson Drive and North Stadium Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70894
LSU Sports Radio Network
Director of Broadcasting:
Jim Hawthorne
WBB Play-by-Play:
Patrick Wright
Network Address:
P.O. Box 25095
Baton Rouge, LA 70894-5095
University
Location:
Founded:
Enrollment:
Nickname:
Colors:
Print specifications:
Mascot:
Arena:
Capacity:
Year opened:
All-time record in PMAC
Playing Floor:
Conference:
Band:
Baton Rouge, La.
1860
25,896
Lady Tigers
Purple & Gold
Purple-PMS 268, Gold-PMS 123
Mike VI (live Bengal tiger)
Pete Maravich Assembly Center
13,468
1972
358-89 (33 years)
Portable Wood
Southeastern
Bengal Brass Basketball Band
Texas, 2002
Texas, 1990
Oklahoma State, 2005
Basketball Facts
Head Coach:
Career Record:
Record at LSU:
2007-08 Record:
2007-08 SEC Record:
2007-08 Postseason:
Final Rankings:
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:
Starters Returning/Lost:
All-time Record:
All-time SEC Record:
SEC Titles:
All-time SEC Tourney Record:
SEC Tournament Titles:
NCAA Tourney Apperances:
NCAA Tournament Record:
Van Chancellor
470-160 (.746/20 years)
31-6 (.838/1 year)
31-6
14-0
NCAA Final Four
No. 6 AP/No. 4 USA Today/Coaches
4/8
0/5
715-324 (.688/33 years)
183-117
3 (2005, 2006, 2008)
27-27
2 (1991, 2003)
18
36-18
University Administration
President:
Dr. John V. Lombardi
Chancellor:
Dr. Michael V. Martin
Faculty Representative:
Dydia DeLyser
Athletics Department
Athletics Director:
Sr. Assoc. AD/SWA:
Sr. Assoc. AD/Operations:
Sr. Assoc. AD/Compliance:
Sr. Assoc. AD/Business:
Sr. Assoc. AD/Ext. Relations:
Assoc. AD/Operations:
Assoc. AD/Compliance:
Assoc. AD/Student Services:
Assistant AD/Facility Services:
Assistant AD/Ticket Manager:
Joe Alleva
Judy Southard
Verge Ausberry
Bo Bahnsen
Mark Ewing
Herb Vincent
Eddie Nunez
Bo Kerin
Mirian Segar
Ronnie Haliburton
Brian Broussard
Pomona ‘63
Mankato ‘69
UCLA ‘92
Lehigh ‘75
Coker '70
LSU '90
LSU '82
LSU ‘78
LSU ‘83
Florida '98
Tennessee '96
LSU '94
LSU ‘90
LSU ‘93
Athletics Dept. Phone Numbers (225 area code)
Athletics Department:
578-8100
Athletics Director:
578-3600
Senior Women’s Admin.:
578-1888
Student Services:
578-4100
Marketing & Promotions:
578-6629
Business Office:
578-6783
Ticket Office:
578-2184
Women’s Basketball Office:
578-6643
2008-2009 LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
Visit the official web site of
LSU Athletics for the latest
women’s basketball news,
statistics, schedules, live and
on demand audio, video,
behind the scene feature
articles.
3
LSU
INTRO
2008 FINAL FOUR
THIS IS LSU
LADY TIGERS
COACHES
REVIEW
RECORDS
2008-09 Schedule/Travel Plans
November
5
10
16
24
26
30
Loyola-New Orleans #
Houston Jags #
Notre Dame ^ (ESPN2)
Tulane (CST)
Xavier
Middle Tennessee
Baton Rouge, La.
Baton Rouge, La.
Baton Rouge, La.
Baton Rouge, La.
Baton Rouge, La.
Baton Rouge, La.
Wednesday
Monday
Sunday
Monday
Wednesday
Sunday
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
1 p.m.
Travel Plans
Centenary Dec. 20 (Shreveport, La.)
Depart:
Return:
Hotel:
Dec. 20, LSU Bus
After game, LSU Bus
Holiday Inn Downtown
102 Lake Street
(318) 222-7717
HISTORY
HONORS
LSU
OPPONENTS
MEDIA
Connecticut Jan. 3 (Hartford, Conn.)
December
1
15
18
20
28
Texas Southern
Louisiana Tech (CST)
Southeastern Louisiana
Centenary
Florida State (CST)
Baton Rouge, La.
Baton Rouge, La.
Baton Rouge, La.
Shreveport, La.
Baton Rouge, La.
Monday
Monday
Thursday
Saturday
Sunday
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Noon
2 p.m.
Baton Rouge, La.
Hartford, Conn.
Fayetteville, Ark.
Baton Rouge, La.
New Orleans, La.
Nashville, Tenn.
Baton Rouge, La.
Lexington, Ky.
Columbia, S.C.
Thursday
Saturday
Thursday
Sunday
Wednesday
Sunday
Thursday
Sunday
Thursday
1 p.m.
Noon
7 p.m.
2 p.m.
7 p.m.
2 p.m.
7 p.m.
Noon
6 p.m.
Baton Rouge, La.
Baton Rouge, La.
Starkville, Miss.
Baton Rouge, La.
Athens, Ga.
Baton Rouge, La.
Baton Rouge, La.
Sunday
Thursday
Sunday
Sunday
Thursday
Sunday
Thursday
2 p.m.
8 p.m.
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
6 p.m.
2 p.m.
8 p.m.
Depart:
Return:
Hotel:
Jan. 2, Charter flight
After game, Charter flight
TBD
Arkansas
Jan. 8 (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Depart:
Return:
Hotel:
Jan. 7, Charter flight
After game, Charter flight
Courtyard Marriott Fayetteville
600 E. Van Asche Drive
(479) 571-4900
UNO
Jan. 14 (New Orleans, La.)
Depart:
Return:
Hotel:
Jan. 13, LSU Bus
After game, LSU Bus
Wyndham Riverfront New Orleans
701 Convention Center Blvd.
(504) 681-1050
January
1
3
8
11
14
18
22
25
29
Nebraska
at Connecticut (CBS)
at Arkansas *
Alabama *
at New Orleans
at Vanderbilt *
Mississippi State * (CST)
at Kentucky *
at South Carolina *
Vanderbilt Jan. 18 (Nashville, Tenn.)
Depart:
Return:
Hotel:
Jan. 17, Charter flight
After game, Charter flight
Doubletree Hotel Nashville
315 4th Avenue North
(615) 747-4832
Kentucky
Jan. 25 (Lexington, Ky.)
Depart:
Return:
Hotel:
Jan. 24, Charter flight
After game, Charter flight
Lexington Downtown Hotel &
Conference Center
369 West Vine Street
(877) 539-1648
February
1
5
8
15
19
22
26
Auburn * (CST)
Arkansas * (SECRN)
at Mississippi State *
Florida * (FSN)
at Georgia *
Kentucky *
Tennessee * (SECRN)
March
1
5-8
at Ole Miss *
SEC Tournament
Oxford, Miss.
Sunday
North Little Rock, Ark. Thurs.-Sun.
S. Carolina Jan. 29 (Columbia, S.C.)
Depart:
Return:
Hotel:
2 p.m.
TBA
Jan. 28, Charter flight
After game, Charter flight
Inn at South Carolina
1619 Pendleton Street
(803) 779-7779
Miss. State Feb. 8 (Starkville, Miss.)
* - Southeastern Conference games; # - Exhibition game; ^ - State Farm Tip-Off Classic
CST - Cox Sports Television
FSN - Fox Sports Net national broadcast
SECRN - SEC Regional Network, aired on Fox Sports Net
Depart:
Return:
Hotel:
Feb. 7, LSU Bus
After game, LSU Bus
Comfort Suites Starkville
801 Russell Street
(662) 324-9595
Georgia
Feb. 19 (Athens, Ga.)
Depart:
Return:
Hotel:
Feb. 18, Charter flight
After game, Charter flight
University of Georgia Center
1197 S. Lumpkin Street
(706) 583-0414
Ole Miss
March 1 (Oxford, Miss.)
Depart:
Return:
Hotel:
Feb. 28, LSU Bus
After game, LSU Bus
Holiday Inn Express
112 Heritage Drive
(662) 236-2500
All times Central; subject to change.
2009 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament
First and Second Rounds • March 22 and 24, 2009
Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Baton Rouge, La.
Hosted by LSU
Game Times
6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. CT on March 22
8:30 p.m. CT on March 24
FOR TICKETS CONTACT THE LSU TICKET OFFICE:
(225) 578-2194 or (800) 960-TKTS
4
2008-2009 LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
2008-09 Roster
Numerical Roster
INTRO
NO.
NAME
POS.
HT.
CL./EXP.
HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL(PREVIOUS SCHOOL)
1
3
5
11
20
22
23
24
25
32
41
44
55
Katherine Graham
Latear Eason
Crystal Riley
Andrea Kelly
Destini Hughes
Courtney Jones
Allison Hightower
Ayana Dunning
Swayze Black
Erica Williams
Taylor Turnbow
Kristen Morris
LaSondra Barrett
G
G
G
G
G
F
G
F/C
F
G
F
F
F
5-11
5-8
5-5
5-9
5-10
6-2
5-10
6-3
6-3
5-8
6-2
6-2
6-2
So./1L
So./1L
Fr./HS
Jr./JC
Fr./HS
Fr./HS
Jr./2L
Fr./HS
Fr./HS
So./TR
Fr./HS
Sr./3L
Fr./HS
Birmingham, Ala./Ramsay HS
Chicago, Ill./John Hope Academy
Memphis, Tenn./Hillcrest HS
Shalimar, Fla./Choctawhatchee HS/Okaloosa-Walton CC
Fort Worth, Texas/Kennedale HS
Midfield, Ala./Midfield HS
Arlington, Texas/Juan Seguin HS
Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor HS
Brookhaven, Miss./Brookhaven HS
Gonzales, La./Dutchtown HS (Southern Miss)
Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson HS
Lathrup Village, Mich./Detroit Country Day School
Jackson, Miss./William B. Murrah HS
2008 FINAL FOUR
THIS IS LSU
LADY TIGERS
COACHES
REVIEW
RECORDS
HISTORY
HONORS
LSU
OPPONENTS
MEDIA
Alphabetical Roster
NO.
NAME
POS.
HT.
CL./EXP.
HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL(PREVIOUS SCHOOL)
55
25
24
3
1
23
20
22
11
44
5
41
32
LaSondra Barrett
Swayze Black
Ayana Dunning
Latear Eason
Katherine Graham
Allison Hightower
Destini Hughes
Courtney Jones
Andrea Kelly
Kristen Morris
Crystal Riley
Taylor Turnbow
Erica Williams
F
F
F/C
G
G
G
G
F
G
F
G
F
G
6-2
6-3
6-3
5-8
5-11
5-10
5-10
6-2
5-9
6-2
5-5
6-2
5-8
Fr./HS
Fr./HS
Fr./HS
So./1L
So./1L
Jr./2L
Fr./HS
Fr./HS
Jr./JC
Sr./3L
Fr./HS
Fr./HS
So./TR
Jackson, Miss./William B. Murrah HS
Brookhaven, Miss./Brookhaven HS
Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor HS
Chicago, Ill./John Hope Academy
Birmingham, Ala./Ramsay HS
Arlington, Texas/Juan Seguin HS
Fort Worth, Texas/Kennedale HS
Midfield, Ala./Midfield HS
Shalimar, Fla./Choctawhatchee HS/Okaloosa-Walton CC
Lathrup Village, Mich./Detroit Country Day School
Memphis, Tenn./Hillcrest HS
Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson HS
Gonzales, La./Dutchtown HS (Southern Miss)
Coaching Staff
Head Coach:
Associate Head Coach:
Assistant Coach:
Assistant Coach:
Director of Basketball Operations:
Athletics Trainer:
Pronunciation Guide
Van Chancellor (Mississippi State, 1965)
Bob Starkey
Travis Mays (Texas, 1990)
Kenya Larkin-Landers (Texas, 2002)
Brittany Dietz (Oklahoma State, 2005)
Micki Collins (Nebraska, 2000)
3
11
20
24
55
Latear Eason
Andrea Kelly
Destini Hughes
Ayana Dunning
LaSondra Barrett
La-TEE-ah
An-DRE-ah
Des-TUH-knee
Eye-ON-nah
Luh-SAWN-druh
By Class Geographical Breakdown
Seniors (1)
Kristen Morris
Juniors (3)
Allison Hightower
Andrea Kelly
Erica Williams
Sophomores (3)
Katherine Graham
Latear Eason
Erica Williams
Freshmen (7)
LaSondra Barrett
Swayze Black
Ayana Dunning
Destini Hughes
Courtney Jones
Crystal Riley
Taylor Turnbow
Louisiana (1)
Erica Williams
LSU
Mississippi (2)
LaSondra Barrett
Swayze Black
Alabama (2)
Katherine Graham
Courtney Jones
Ohio (1)
Ayana Dunning
Florida (1)
Andrea Kelly
Tennessee (1)
Crystal Riley
Georgia (1)
Taylor Turnbow
Texas (2)
Allison Hightower
Destini Hughes
Illinois (1)
Latear Eason
Michigan (1)
Kristen Morris
2008-2009 LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
5
UP FOR THE CHALLENGE
Head coach Van Chancellor called
it his most memorable moment in his
first season at LSU -- hoisting the
2008 NCAA New Orleans Regional
Trophy in front of a partisan Lady
Tiger crowd at the New Orleans
Arena. That moment signified LSU’s
fifth straight Final Four appearance
and the first for Chancellor in his 20year collegiate coaching career.
Seven months later, Chancellor and the Lady Tigers
will attempt to perpetuate that success with a talented
crop of incoming players, including three McDonald’s AllAmericans. LSU loses 11 seniors and all five starters from a
team that produced a 31-6 overall record and a perfect 140 Southeastern Conference regular season mark. Three of
those starters moved on to the WNBA, including
consensus first-team All-American and SEC Player of the
Year Sylvia Fowles.
However, Chancellor and his staff should have plenty
of talent for the next several years after bringing in the
nation’s third-best recruiting class. While replacing the
likes of Fowles, Erica White and Quianna Chaney will be a
difficult task, the Lady Tigers boast eight newcomers and
return four players from the team of a year ago.
What the incoming group has shown in early season
workouts is an outstanding work ethic and a willingness to
learn, intangibles that will be crucial as the season takes
shape.
6
“I enjoy the attitude of this team and they work hard,”
Chancellor said following the team’s August workouts. “It
is exciting to see the effort they have given in only a week
of practice together.”
Chancellor, who enters his second season at LSU, will
be looking for leadership from both his frontcourt and
backcourt, and the new class of players will seek to
establish their own identity to add to the legacy of LSU
women’s basketball.
Backcourt
Junior guard Allison Hightower, the 2007-08 SEC
Sixth Woman of the Year, returns as the leader of the Lady
Tigers’ backcourt. Hightower proved to be one of the top
players off the bench in the nation after averaging 7.1
points and 2.5 rebounds per game with two starts.
Hightower ranked second on the squad in three-point field
goal percentage (.374) and has steadily increased her
shooting percentage in her first two seasons.
Hightower brings experience from two Final Fours as
the top player off the bench and will see her role increase
to that of team leader. The 5-foot-10 guard has scored in
double-figures in 17 games during her career, including 12
contests during the 2007-08 season.
In LSU’s preseason trip to Vancouver, Canada,
Hightower displayed her scoring abilities and court
presence by posting double-digits in all three contests.
She poured in 19 points in the Lady Tigers’ final game
against Simon Fraser University.
Two of LSU’s four returning players are sophomore
guards this season. Latear Eason, who stands at 5-foot-8,
returns after seeing limited action in 20 games due to the
Lady Tigers depth of veteran guards last season. Eason
suffered a knee injury prior to the 2008 SEC Tournament
that sidelined her throughout the NCAA Tournament, but
she has since returned to full strength. Katherine Graham,
a 5-foot-11 guard, averaged 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in
24 games last season.
With the departure of White, Chaney and RaShonta
LeBlanc, Chancellor and his staff brought in a dynamic trio
of guards. Freshman Destini Hughes is a name LSU fans
will quickly become familiar with as she expected to play a
key role in her first season in the purple and gold. Hughes,
a 5-10 standout, was a McDonald’s All-American as a
senior at Kennedale High School in Fort Worth, Texas.
Hughes was the second-rated point guard in America in
the Class of 2008 and was called by many recruiting
experts as the top backcourt defender in the nation at the
high school level. She nearly averaged a triple-double in
2007 with 20.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per
game.
Joining Hughes at the point will be fellow true
freshman Crystal Riley of Memphis, Tenn. Riley was
ranked as the 11th-best point guard in the nation after
contributing 21 points per game as a senior at Hillcrest
High School.
Junior college transfer guard Andrea Kelly should lend
immediately help to the perimeter. Kelly, who played for
two seasons at Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) Community
College, brings in a capability to score and was called by
many one of the top shooting guards to come out of the
JUCO ranks. At Okaloosa-Walton, Kelly went up against
2008-2009 LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
LSU
Seniors (1)
NO.
NAME
HT.
CL
POS.
GP/GS
PPG
RPG
NOTABLE
44
Kristen Morris
6-2
Jr.
F
30/0
2.5
2.8
Played in 83 career games
INTRO
2008 FINAL FOUR
THIS IS LSU
Juniors (1)
No.
Name
23
Allison Hightower
11
Andrea Kelly
LADY TIGERS
Ht.
5-10
5-9
Cl
Jr.
Jr.
Pos.
G
G
Gp/Gs
37/2
Ppg
7.1
Rpg
2.5
Notable (or previous school)
2007-08 SEC Sixth Woman of Year
Shalimar, Fla./Okaloosa-Walton CC
COACHES
REVIEW
RECORDS
Sophomores (3)
HISTORY
NO.
NAME
HT.
CL
POS.
GP/GS
PPG
RPG
NOTABLE
3
1
32
Latear Eason
Katherine Graham
Erica Williams*
5-8
5-11
5-8
So.
So.
So.
G
G
G
20/0
24/0
20/1
0.8
1.7
4.7
0.6
1.3
1.4
Returns from knee injury
One of two returning guards
Transfers from Southern Miss
HONORS
LSU
OPPONENTS
MEDIA
* - will be eligible for the 2009-10 season
Freshmen (8)
NO.
NAME
HT.
CL
POS.
HOMETOWN/LAST SCHOOL
55
25
24
20
22
11
5
41
LaSondra Barrett^
Swayze Black
Ayana Dunning^
Destini Hughes^
Courtney Jones
Andrea Kelly
Crystal Riley
Taylor Turnbow
6-2
6-3
6-3
5-10
6-2
5-9
5-5
6-2
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Jr.
Fr.
Fr.
F
F
F/C
G
F
G
G
F
Jackson, Miss./William B. Murrah HS
Brookhaven, Miss./Brookhaven HS
Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor HS
Fort Worth, Texas/Kennedale HS
Midfield, Ala./Midfield HS
Shalimar, Fla./Okaloosa-Walton CC
Memphis, Tenn./Hillcrest HS
Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson HS
^ - indicates 2008 McDonald's All-American
several players who moved on to Division I
scholarships as well.
Frontcourt
LSU’s long-standing tradition of talented
frontcourt players can be expected to continue
in 2007-08. The Lady Tigers will rely heavily
upon Kristen Morris, the program’s lone senior
who brings in 83 career games of experience. At
6-foot-2, Morris is a solid presence down low,
and she averaged 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds
per game last season. Morris has been waiting
in the wings for this opportunity after serving as
backup at the post position to Fowles the past
three seasons.
Two new post players -- LaSondra Barrett
and Swayze Black -- hail from Mississippi and
each bring in impressive resumes. Barrett, at 6foot-2, underwent surgery to repair the
meniscus in her right knee but is scheduled to
be on target to practice in fall workouts. Barrett,
a 2008 McDonald’s All-American, averaged a
double-double as a senior at William B. Murrah
High School in Jackson, Miss. The 2008
Mississippi State Player of the Year was ranked
the 12th overall player in the nation by
HoopGurlz.com.
Black, a native of Brookhaven, Miss., comes
in as one of the top true freshman defenders in
the nation. She made her presence immediately
felt by chipping in 10 points in the Lady Tigers
first two exhibition games in Canada.
Ayana Dunning, a 6-foot-3 forward/center
from Columbus, Ohio, is the third of LSU’s 2008
McDonald’s All-Americans. Dunning was ranked
the third-best post player in America after
prepping at Eastmoor High School.
Courtney Jones of Midfield, Ala., and Taylor
Turnbow of Stone Mountain, Ga., round out the
list of newcomers. Jones, a 6-foot-3 forward,
was the 2008 Miss Alabama Basketball Player
of the Year and the Alabama Gatorade Player of
the Year. She averaged 16.3 points 11.0
rebounds as a senior at Midfield High School.
Turnbow, along with Dunning, participated at
the 2008 USA Women’s Basketball Under-18
National Team Trials this past June. Turnbow
comes from Stephenson High School, the same
program that produced former LSU forward
Ashley Thomas. She turned in a game-high 14
points and eight rebounds in LSU’s first
Canadian game against Trinity Western
University.
Schedule
Sixteen home games highlighted by the
State Farm Tip-Off Classic versus Notre Dame
and home matchups with Louisiana Tech,
Florida State and defending national champion
Tennessee, make up a challenging schedule for
the Lady Tigers in 2007-08.
LSU opens the season with seven straight
home games and 10 consecutive games in the
state of Louisiana. The Lady Tigers will play
against nine teams who reached the NCAA
Tournament last season with six of those
opponents visiting the Pete Maravich Assembly
Center. LSU’s 16 home games are the most on
the schedule since the 2001-02 season.
“We wanted to schedule enough home
games to give our young team a chance to
compete against quality opponents,” Chancellor
said. “We are bringing in quality teams at home
that the fans will enjoy seeing. This schedule
also gives our team a chance to see a lot of
different styles of play. You always look to
accomplish that in your non-conference
schedule prior to starting SEC play.”
In addition, LSU will play host to the NCAA
Tournament First and Second Round for the
second straight season on March 22 and 24,
2009.
LSU has the honor of serving as host of the
2008 State Farm Tip-Off Classic on Sunday,
Nov. 16. The Lady Tigers have played in college
basketball’s premier season-opening event on
two previous occasions against Baylor in 2004
and Texas Tech in 2005. LSU will take on Notre
2008-2009 LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
Allison Hightower
7
LSU
INTRO
2008 FINAL FOUR
THIS IS LSU
LADY TIGERS
COACHES
REVIEW
RECORDS
HISTORY
HONORS
LSU
OPPONENTS
MEDIA
2008-09 Season Outlook
Dame, a Sweet 16 participant a year ago, in the tournament’s first game at 1:30 p.m.
CDT. Pittsburgh and Texas A&M meet in the second contest at 4 p.m. CDT. Both
games will be televised by ESPN2.
“We knew one of our goals of the schedule was to host the State Farm Tip-Off
Classic,” Chancellor said. “We feel privileged and excited to be welcoming three great
teams to the Maravich Center to open the college basketball season. Notre Dame will
give our team a chance to play against an outstanding opponent right away.”
On Dec. 15, one of college basketball’s greatest rivalries will be renewed in Baton
Rouge when Louisiana Tech visits the Maravich Center for the first time since Dec. 8,
1990.
LSU’s first road contest will be at Centenary on Dec. 20. The Lady Tigers close
2008 with a home tilt against Florida State on Dec. 28, marking the Seminoles first
appearance in Baton Rouge since 1991. LSU has won the last three meetings between
the two.
On Jan. 1, LSU and Nebraska open the New Year in Baton Rouge before the Lady
Tigers head to Connecticut for a showdown with the Huskies on Jan. 3 in Hartford.
The trip to Connecticut represents the first out of state game for LSU and pits a
matchup between the only two programs who have reach five consecutive Final
Fours.
The SEC schedule follows for the Lady Tigers, who open league play five days
later at Arkansas on Jan. 8. LSU has its conference home opener against Alabama on
Jan. 11, one of only three home dates during the month. Road trips to Vanderbilt,
Kentucky and South Carolina are also on the slate.
LSU will play five SEC home games in February, including Auburn on Feb. 1,
Arkansas on Feb. 5, Florida on Feb. 15 and Kentucky on Feb. 22. The home schedule
concludes with a rematch of last year’s NCAA Final Four semifinal against defending
national champion Tennessee on Thursday, Feb. 26 in the Maravich Center.
On The Tube
A total of 10 Lady Tiger games will feature live television broadcasts in 2008-09,
Since the 2003-04 season, a total of 87 Lady Tiger contests have been broadcast on
television, which includes all NCAA Tournament games on LSU’s run to five
consecutive Final Fours. The Lady Tigers own a 114-48 record all-time in televised
games. Both State Farm Tip-Off Classic contests will feature a live national broadcast
on ESPN2, a network the Lady Tigers have played on 32 times over the past six
seasons. LSU takes on 2008 Final Four participant Connecticut in Hartford, at noon
on CBS. Cox Sports Television will televise five LSU home games, including three
non-conference contests during the months of November and December. CST will
carry games against Tulane on Monday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m., versus Louisiana Tech on
Monday, Dec. 15 and a showdown with Florida State on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. Two
SEC games are part of the package. The LSU-Mississippi State contest on Thursday,
Jan. 22 will be carried by CST live at 7 p.m. as will the Lady Tigers’ matchup with
Auburn on Sunday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.
2008 Signing Class Ranked Third In Nation
LSU’s 2008 signing class that features seven true freshman was ranked the
third-best in the nation according to HoopGurlz.com. That group has since began fall
classes and will be ready to go in the Lady Tigers’ season-opener against Notre Dame
on Nov. 16.
Pack The PMAC Set For Feb. 15 Versus Florida
The 13th annual Pack The PMAC game, one of the top promotional events in women’s
college basketball, is slated for Feb. 15 as the Lady Tigers take on Florida at 2 p.m. Last year,
LSU drew 8,807 fans who saw the Lady Tigers defeat Georgia, 63-57. The promotion has
been widely successful since the first Pack the PMAC on Jan. 21, 1997.
LSU played in a two-day Labor Day exhibition trip in Vancouver,
Canada, in late August. It was the first time any Lady Tiger team had played
in Canada, and the trip allowed the players to earn valuable game
experience prior to the start of October practice.
According to NCAA regulations, teams are allowed to make a trip away
from the United States every four years and prior to such trips, the teams
are allowed to practice up to a maximum of 10 days. LSU won all three of its
games in Canada, defeating Trinity Western, 81-27, and then British
Columbia, 74-46, in a Saturday doubleheader. The two victories were
followed up with another convincing win, 71-47, over Simon Fraser
University that Sunday.
“We had the chance to evaluate all of our players and put them in an
actual game environment,” head coach Van Chancellor said. “We learned a
lot about our team today and feel these games will serve as a valuable
experience when we officially open practice in October.”
Off the court, LSU was able to take in the sights of the Vancouver area
and enjoy an experience that was a first for most Lady Tiger players.
A Trip To
Canada
LSU’s Labor Day Canada Exhibition Trip
8
DATE
OPPONENT
SCORE
HIGH SCORER
HIGH REBOUNDER
Aug. 30
Aug. 30
Aug. 31
Trinity Western
British Columbia
Simon Fraser
W, 81-27
W, 74-46
W, 71-47
Turnbow (14)
Hightower (17)
Hightower (19)
Turnbow (8)
Morris (7)
Graham (6)
2008-2009 LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
The Lady Tigers hoist the New Orleans Regional Championship trophy, clinching their fifth consecutive NCAA Final Four berth.
2008 Final Four
Fan Fare
(Above left) The Lady Tigers
arrive at the team hotel in Tampa
to the greeting of fans.
(Above right) Head coach Van
Chancellor accepts a
commemorative basketball upon
arrival.
(Left) LSU players sign
autographs for fans during Final
Four weekend.
10
2008-2009 LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
LSU
INTRO
2008 FINAL FOUR
THIS IS LSU
LADY TIGERS
COACHES
REVIEW
RECORDS
HISTORY
HONORS
LSU
OPPONENTS
MEDIA
Salute Dinner
Florida Days
LSU took in the sights and sounds of Tampa, Fla. Head coach Van Chancellor
speaks at the annual team salute dinner.
Press &
Practice
LSU goes through a practice in
Tampa during Final Four week
(top left). Head coach Van
Chancellor and associate head
coach Bob Starkey watch drills
at practice (top right). Sylvia
Fowles fields questions from
members of the media (bottom
left). Head coach Van
Chancellor enjoys a fun
moment with members of the
media at the team’s
shootaround a day prior to tipoff (bottom right).
2008-2009 LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
11
Final
FOUR
Pregame Rally
Tip Off!
Fans pack the St. Pete Times Forum as LSU and Tennessee
tip off in the national semifinal (left). Head coach Van
Chancellor (above) advanced to his first Final Four.
Tampa Tribute
(Far Left) Head coach Van Chancellor enjoys a moment with
the three other coaches whose teams reached the Final Four -Tara VanDerveer, Geno Auriemma and Pat Summitt. (Near Left)
Sylvia Fowles poses with the rest of the State Farm All-America
team that was announced.
12
2008-2009 LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE