Lady Tiger's "Miami Connection" score big last night in the WNBA

Only one team in the WNBA has defeated the Dream in Atlanta and that team is the Chicago Sky -- and now they've done it twice.  Sylvia Fowles leads the way again with another double-double tallying 22 points by hitting 7 of 12 shots and grabbing 12 rebounds along with 3 blocked shots.  But it was Syl's free throw shooting that put that game away as she hit two big ones with 20 seconds to play to ice the game away.  For the game, Syl hit 8 of 11 from the free throw line where she is shooting 81% for the year.

Chicago game story and box score: http://bit.ly/aU1Msp

In Tulsa, Scholanda Robinson stayed red-hot by against leading Tulsa in scoring with 16 points.  Sho-Time's numbers weren't enough however as the Shock lost to the Washington Mystics 69-54.

Tulsa game story and box score: http://bit.ly/9q7DSF 

Syl_wnba_pic

Filed under  //  Alumni   Sylvia Fowles   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Big Syl on National Team for All-Star Game; Mone invited to training camp

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. ( July 1, 2010) – Including six Olympic gold medalists, the official roster for the 2010 USA Basketball Women’s National Team that will compete in the WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Stars at the Sun Game, was announced today by USA Basketball and the WNBA. WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Stars at the Sun will be televised by ESPN at 3:30 p.m. (all times EDT) and the coverage will be presented by adidas. In addition to the game, the U.S. will conduct a training camp July 7-11 with all available members from the USA National Team pool participating. Named to compete in the game for USA Basketball were: Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Swin Cash (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun), Maya Moore (University of Connecticut), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty) .

“This training camp is the first and only opportunity that I’m going to have the chance to be with the majority of the players that were in the last Olympics that were a part of our core group,” said USA and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, who will guide the USA National Team through 2012. “So whatever amount of time we have, it’s going to be used in the best way that we can. We’ll get a chance to see how they interact with each other. They’ll get a feel for me, and I’ll get a feel for them and we’ll play the game and go from there. “I’m looking forward to having an opportunity to coach them and to get a feel for them in game situations,” Auriemma continued. “So, I’m really excited. Some of them I haven’t seen play yet, and I really haven’t had a chance to see some of the guys that I had coached before. I haven’t had a chance to be around them since they graduated, so all-in-all I think the Stars at the Sun game will be great opportunity for me, and it’s a great opportunity for them as well.”

Additional USA National Team members confirmed to attend the July training camp are: Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Shameka Christon (Chicago Sky), Lindsey Harding (Washington Mystics), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Kara Lawson (Connecticut Sun) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx).

Available USA team members will begin practice at 5:00 p.m. on July 8 at Connecticut College, with media availability to precede practice from 4:30-5:00 p.m. On July 9 the team will open its practice, held at the Mohegan Sun Arena, to the public at 2:45 p.m. U.S. players who do not have to immediately return to their WNBA teams following the July 10 game, will remain in Connecticut to scrimmage the Australia National Team on July 11 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The USA versus Australia scrimmage is not open to the public.

USA Basketball Women’s National Team Schedule

Thursday, July 8
4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Media Availability Connecticut College
5:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Practice (open to credentialed media) Connecticut College
5:15 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Practice (closed) Connecticut College

Friday, July 9
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Practice (closed) Mohegan Sun Arena
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Practice (open to media & public) Mohegan Sun Arena
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Media Availability Mohegan Sun Arena

Saturday, July 10
3:30 p.m. WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Stars at the Sun Mohegan Sun Arena

Sunday, July 11
11:00 a.m. Scrimmage vs. Australia Mohegan Sun Arena
(open to credentialed media)

Posted by Bob Starkey 

LSU's big 3 (Augustus, Fowles, Johnson) put up big numers in W action last night

Last night, in Chicago's victory over league-leading Connecticut, Sylvia Fowles did everything but work the concession stands at half-time.  Big Syl's stat line against the first play Sun was spectacular hitting 11 of 14 shots, 4 of 5 free throws, grabbing 11 rebounds, blocking 5 shots, and passing off for 4 assists.

Guards Erin Thorn and Jia Perkins added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Forwards Sandrine Gruda and Asjha Jones led the Sun (10-6) with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Sun rookie center Tina Charles, the WNBA's No. 1 draft pick, was frustrated into foul trouble early on and limited to five points, on 2-for-9 shooting, and six rebounds. She came in averaging 15.9 points and 12.5 rebounds.

''I had no personal inspiration going up against Charles,'' said Fowles, who earlier in the day was named to Team USA for the game against WNBA stars on July 10. ''She's a very good player. I just wanted to do my best and slow things down and not necessarily stop her because she's usually going to get her points.''

Allison Hightower played little but made the most of her opportunity hitting a 3-pointer on her only field goal attempt.

Chicago/Connecticut Box & Game Story: http://bit.ly/cuPoMW

Temeka Johnson turned in her consecutive double-double effort last night but it was enough as Washington outscored Phoenix 107 to 104.  Meek was 6 of 10 from the floor including a three-point and chalked up 11 assists.

Phoenix Box & Game Story: http://bit.ly/9dIV4o

In Atlanta, Seimone Augusuts lead Minnesota with 17 points but it wasn't enough to defeat the dream. Mone was 8 of 15 from the floor and grabbed 3 boards and added to steals:

Minnesota Box & Game Story: http://bit.ly/9voMc4

 

Filed under  //  Alumni   Seimone Augustus   Sylvia Fowles   Temeka Johnson   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Seimone does Twitter Q&A for WNBA

Via the WNBA website, Mone does a Q&A via Twitter.  Checkout what she has to say to her fans!

http://bit.ly/9YEkZ1

 

Seimone_twitter_logo

Filed under  //  Alumni   Seimone Augustus   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Bengal Belles provide Communications Lab to LSU student-athletes

The Bengal Belles has generously provided the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes with the necessary funds for a Communications Lab which will feature a studio and media training area for LSU's student-athletes.

Since their inception in 1996, the Bengal Belles have placed the Academic Center as their primary focus for contribution of their fundraising monies. The Belles are dedicated to promote the academic well being of the student-athlete and have donated over $500,000 during the 15-year span. 

The Bengal Belles Academic Excellence award, introduced at the 2010 Academic Gala, is given to student-athletes who are enrolled in graduate school and earned at least a 3.0 GPA before exhausting their athletic eligibility.

"When Athletic Director Joe Alleva approached us in 2009 about an annual contribution to the Communications Lab, the Belles agreed it was a perfect fit," Belles President Aimée Simon said. "The Belles are so proud to know their contribution can build confidence and inspire athletes to be better trained at public speaking, and prepares the athletes for the interview process of post graduation job interviews. This new commitment to the Communications Lab gives the Belles another opportunity to remain steadfast to the Academic Center for the student-athlete."

LSU is one of the few schools where student-athletes go through media training to enhance their communication skills. Each team met with Dr. Tommy Karam or Dr. Shirley White, experts in the field who give training sessions prior to the start of the season.

Read entire article: http://bit.ly/asPBDJ

Media_day_018

Filed under  //  Academics  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

All-stars selected for third session of Van Chancellor Basketball Camp

Session III of the Van Chancellor Day Camp has concluded and it was another great day for the staff and campers. Lot of activities filled the day including lectures on defensive stance from Coach Chancellor and a teaching lecturefrom Coach Joni Crenshaw. There were also shooting contests and other competition games along with a snack break and Lady Tiger highlight video.  Our  All-Star Campers of the day, picked by the coaching staff for the enthusiasm and hard work included: Brittany Nettles, Wendy torres, Charlotte Richardson, Cooper Williamson, Rhonny Haliburton, Anna Christian, and Layna Hesson. (shown pictured with Coach Chancellory).

Campstars

Filed under  //  Camp/Clinics  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Adversity makes Seimone's family even closer

From The Times-Picayune's Rachel Whitaker:

The relationship between Seimone and Seymore Augustus encompasses more than just that of a father and daughter.

They grew stronger through the most adverse of times in the past year, when they both faced illness and injury obstacles.

Seimone Augustus, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx, tore her ACL in a June 2009 WNBA game against the Phoenix Mercury, after a collision with Mercury forward Diana Taurasi.

A devoted daughter who learned to play basketball through rigorous training in her driveway with her father, she received worse news during her knee rehabilitation -- her father had multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease in which the brain and spinal cord in the central nervous system degenerate. There is no cure for the disease.

Early warning signs he suffered were blurred vision, stiff muscles and struggling to walk on his own.

Common symptoms that evolve in multiple sclerosis patients include fatigue, speech and swallowing problems, tremors, muscle spasms and dizziness.

Seimone, 26, said it was crushing to be apart from her father while he was sick and she was rehabbing her knee.

"For the first three months I wasn't able to walk, and the doctor said I couldn't go visit my dad until I wasn't on crutches and didn't have a limp, " she said. "But I knew I had to be stronger, because he was always the strong one in our family."

It was difficult for Seymore Augustus to come to grips with the realization that he would have to stop working and rely on his family for care.

He said he had to go to therapy to learn to walk again.

"I have lesions on my brain; it's rough stuff, " he said. "With (multiple sclerosis), you have good days where you can feel healthy, and the next day you'll be in a lot of pain. I wouldn't wish it on anybody."

He said his wife, Kim, was the rock he and Seimone needed when they were at their weakest points.

"Without my wife, neither of us would have made it, " he said. "At times I couldn't even pick up toilet paper. (Seimone and I) both got depressed because we were used to working all our life."

Kim Augustus said one way the family bonded was becoming educated on multiple sclerosis.

She said Seymore is in the "relapsing-remitting" stage of the disease, meaning he suffers unpredictable attacks, or "exacerbations, " of symptoms for periods ranging from a few days to weeks, followed by recovery of some functions. Recovery can take weeks or even months.

"None of us knew what he was going to go through in the months and years to come, so we spend a lot of time sitting and talking about the literature we read, " Kim Augustus said. "We found out in the last couple of months that taking Vitamin D helps along with his medication."

Seymore said when Seimone is away playing in the WNBA or overseas, they often use Skype to communicate, fostering the relationship they developed when Seimone was young.

Seimone said her father was the first basketball coach she ever had. She played volleyball, soccer and T-ball as a child, but she fell in love with basketball, and her father committed her to excel on the court.

Read the rest of the article: http://bit.ly/dhSAkg

Filed under  //  Alumni   Seimone Augustus   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Servanthood -- a message for/from the Lady Tigers

BOB STARKEY: From time to time we like to send our players messages via email and we sent one this morning that we thought we'd share with you today.  Part of the Lady Tiger Way is having a servanthood approach to our program where we are constantly serving each other and trying to help each other.  This morning I recieved a posting from pastor Rick Warren that I found so powerful that we sent it to our team today and I thought we'd share it with your as well:

Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now. Proverbs 3:28 (TEV)

Real servants pay attention to needs. Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands us: “Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10 GWT).

 When God puts someone in need right in front of you, he is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood. Notice that God says the needs of your church family are to be given preference, not put at the bottom of your “things to do” list.

We miss many occasions for serving because we lack sensitivity and spontaneity. Great opportunities to serve never last long. They pass quickly, sometimes never to return again. You may only get one chance to serve that person, so take advantage of the moment.

“Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now” (Proverbs 3:28 TEV).

John Wesley was an incredible servant of God. His motto was:

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.”

That is greatness. You can begin by looking for small tasks that no one else wants to do. Do these little things as if they were great things, because God is watching.

Huddle

Posted by Bob Starkey 

Sho, Meek and Marie shine last night in the WNBA

There were a lot of LSU Lady Tigers in action but none shined more than Scholanda Robinson.  In fact Sho is on a tear and playing as well as anyone in the WNBA right now.  She has had two consecutive weeks where she has been mentioned as a candidate for WNBA Player of the Week and she started off the week well last night by leading all scorers on both teams with 19 points.  Her effort wasn't enough however as Tulsa lost to Allison Hightower's Connecticut Sun 101-89.  Ally came off the bench to hit a 3 for the Sun in the win.

Temeka Johnson registered a double last night with 11 points and 12 assist but it was enough to help Phoenix on the road in Atlanta as the Dream defeated the Mercury 94-88.  The Mercury played without Diana Taurasi last night.

Marie Ferdinand-Harris also had an outstanding night with 12 points, 4 rebounds and four assists but it too was not enough at the Los Angeles Sparks dropped a game to the New York Liberty.

Scholanda & Ally's Game: http://bit.ly/9YRaol

Temeka's Game: http://bit.ly/bJ7YDw

Marie's Game: http://bit.ly/9gplBH

Filed under  //  Alumni   Temeka Johnson   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Lady Tigers In The WNBA Weekly Update - June 29, 2010

Every week, we will take a look at what former Lady Tigers did the past week in the WNBA.

Marie Ferdinand-Harris, Guard
Los Angeles Sparks

Ferdinand-Harris and the Los Angeles Sparks have dropped three straight games, including a pair of contests at Atlanta and Washington last week. Her best outing came with a nine-point performance at Washington on June 24. Ferdinand is averaging 6.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

Last Week:

June 24 at Washington (L, 53-68) 9 pts, 3 reb, 1-of-1 FT, 32 min

 June 27 at Atlanta (L, 81-89) 4 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast, 2-of-2 FT, 17 min

This Week:

Tuesday, June 29 vs. New York, 7:30 p.m. CT

Thursday, July 1 vs. San Antonio, 7:30 p.m. CT

Saturday, July 3 vs. Seattle, 2 p.m. CT

Sylvia Fowles, Center

Chicago Sky

Sylvia Fowles’ double-digit scoring streak has been extended to 15 straight games. Last week, Fowles posted her third double-double of the season with 11 points and a season-best 17 rebounds in a 64-60 loss to Indiana on June 27. Fowles also had three blocks in that contest. Two days prior, she delivered 16 points in a 79-72 win over Washington. Fowles is averaging 18.2 points and 8.6 boards per game.

Last Week:

June 25 vs. Washington (W, 79-72) 16 pts, 7 reb, 2 blk, 6-of-10 FG, 4-of-4 FT, 30 min

 June 27 vs. Indiana (L, 64-60) 11 pts, 17 reb, 3 blk, 2-of-5 FG, 7-of-10 FT, 37 min

This Week:

Thursday, July 1 vs. Connecticut, 7 p.m. CT

Saturday, July 3 at Atlanta, 6 p.m. CT

Allison Hightower, Guard
Connecticut Sun

Last Week:

June 22 vs. Chicago, did not play

June 25 vs. Phoenix, did not play

June 27 at New York (L, 68-77) 2 reb, 8 min

This Week:

Tuesday, June 29 at Tulsa, 8 p.m. CT

Thursday, July 1 at Chicago, 8 p.m. CT


Temeka Johnson, Point Guard
Phoenix Mercury

Last Week:

 June 25 at Connecticut (L, 79-82) 5 reb, 4 ast, 31 min

 June 27 at Washington (L, 85-95) 2 ast, 1-of-1 FT, 24 min

This Week:

Tuesday, June 29 at Atlanta, 4 p.m. CT

Thursday, July 1 vs. Washington, 7 p.m. CT

Saturday, July 3 vs. New York, 7 p.m. CT


Scholanda Robinson, Guard
Tulsa Shock

Scholanda Robinson’s scoring tear continues as she has posted five straight games of double-figures despite her team’s woes. Robinson led the Shock with 16 points despite an 83-72 loss to Seattle on Sunday. Robinson has raised her average to 11.9 points per game.

Last Week:
June 23 at Atlanta (L, 90-96) 17 pts, 6 stl, 6-of-13 FG, 5-of-8 FT, 26 min

June 25 vs. New York (L, 78-92) 14 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 3-of-3 FT, 29 min

June 27 vs. Seattle (L, 72-83) 16 pts, 5 reb, 2 stl, 6-of-10 FG, 4-of-4 FT, 27 min

This Week:

Tuesday, June 29 vs. Connecticut, 7 p.m. CT

Saturday, July 3 vs. Washington, 7 p.m. CT

Seimone Augustus, Guard-Forward
Minnesota Lynx

Augustus dropped 20 points in a win at New York and sparked the Lynx late in that contest as part of a 10-2 run to close the game. She had a 3-pointer and jumper in the last two minutes of that contest. Over the weekend, the Lynx lost to San Antonio but Augustus had 14 points in 31 minutes of action.

Last Week:

June 22 at New York (W, 75-68) 20 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast, 8-of-14 FG, 3-of-4 3FG, 1-of-1 FT, 28 min

June 26 at San Antonio (L, 66-80) 14 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast, 2-of-2 FT, 31 min

Posted by Bill Martin