KG enjoys the Lady Tiger's College Prep Camp

KATHERINE GRAHAM: This past week we have had two of the best camps I have worked in my years at LSU. These campers were special, because they were by far the most interactive. They displayed a thirst for learning and an interest in what makes us Lady Tigers. In the College Prep Camp we got a chance to meet a lot of new and talented players and learn a lot about them. The campers got a chance to be a Lady Tiger for about 24 hours. We showed them some of the drills we do in practice to develop certain skills. Also, they were able to see how we prepare for games and had team meetings and mock halftimes with Coach Chanellor. So for 24 hours, the coaching staff and the players treated the campers as if they were a part of our team, which I think helped us create personal relationships with most of them.

Filed under  //  Camp/Clinics  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Marie pours in 19 off the bench to lead Sparks to victory!

Marie Ferdinand Harris came off the bench and poured in 19 points on 6 of 7 shooting from the flloor and 6 of 6 from the free throw line to help the Los Angeles Sparks to a victory over the Minnesota Lynx.  Marie scored 8 of her points in the last two minutes of the game! After a strong start to the season, Marie is just now regaining her form after a knee injury and she rescued the Sparks today.  Marie was not the only Lady Tiger alumnus shining today at Seimone Augustus  continued her comback as well by hitting for 16 points.

Ferdinand-Harris said she exploited the Lynx's defense on screens to score 12 points in the fourth quarter.

 "They were doing a good job in the first half of making the guards give the ball up," Ferdinand-Harris said. "In the second half, that was as aggressive. So right off the screen, I was able to get into my shot and shoot."

Augustus banked a 6-foot shot with 37.3 seconds left to give Minnesota an 84-83 lead. Ferdinand-Harris responded by converting four free throws in a 12-second span, as Los Angeles regained an 87-84 advantage with 17.8 seconds to go.

Read more on the game: http://bit.ly/aWmwLX

Marie

Posted by Bob Starkey 

Theresa Plaisance surives final cut; makes USA U18 Team

After 16 finalists participated in six days of trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball today announced its final, 12-player 2010 USA Women’s U18 National Team. The USA women will compete in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, June 23-27 at the USOTC. The tournament will take place in Sports Center I and is open to the public.

“I’m real excited to get going,” said Jen Rizzotti, USA U18 and University of Hartford head coach. “With 12 players, now, you know your pieces and you know your strengths and your weaknesses, so we can decide what we want to do. The next phase is about to begin, and we’re real excited to fine tune some things and really get ready for the start of the tournament next week.”

The 12-player roster includes: Theresa Plaisance (Vanderbilt Catholic H.S./Marrero, LA), Diamond DeShields (Norcross H.S./Norcross, Ga.); Stefanie Dolson (Minisink Valley H.S./Port Jervis, N.Y.); Reshanda Gray (Washington Prep H.S./Los Angeles, Calif.);  Cassie Harberts (San Clemente H.S./San Clemente, Calif.); Bria Hartley (North Babylon H.S./North Babylon, N.Y.); Malina Howard (Twinsburg H.S./Twinsburg, Ohio); Alexis Jones (MacArthur H.S./Irving, Texas); Allyson Malott (Madison H.S./Middletown, Ohio); Kayla McBride (Villa Maria Academy/Erie, Pa.); Chiney Ogwumike (Cy-Fair H.S./Cypress, Texas);and  Cassie Peoples (Cy-Fair H.S./Houston, Texas).

Read the entire article: http://bit.ly/cL3geW

Therea_usa

Filed under  //  Team USA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Lady Tiger freshman Theresa Plaisance makes first cut for USA Basketball

After three days of intense trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, USA Basketball today announced 16 finalists to make the 2010 USA Women’s U18 National Team. Congratulations to Theresa Plaisance for making that cut!   Of the 16 finalists, only 12 will make the 2010 USA U18 National Team, which will compete in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women, June 23-27 at the USOTC. The final, 12-player team will be announced no later than the afternoon of June 14, after several additional practice sessions.  While Ogwumike was named both the Gatorade National and Texas State Player of the Year, Hartley (New York), McBride (Pennsylvania), Peters (New Jersey) and Plaisance (Louisiana) also earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors in their respective states.

Read the complete article at: http://bit.ly/baLCJh

Theresa_plaicance

Filed under  //  Team USA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Meek's double-double spoils Seimone's return

Seimone Augustus, playing for the first time this season scored 13 points but it wasn't enough as the Phoenix Mercury defeated Minnesota 99-88.  Mone's former teammate Temeka Johnson had a lot to do with defeating the Lynx by registering a double-double with 13 points and 10 asssits.

Read more: http://bit.ly/9Ds7vd

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

Seimone set to return tonight vs. Meek and the Mercuy

From the Minnesota Lynx website:
In desperate need for a pick-me-up, the team seems more than happy incorporating All-star forward Seimone Augustus back into their practices.

Coach Cheryl Reeve said that she hopes Augustus will be a helpful addition in tomorrow night's game against Phoenix and former LSU teammate Temeka Johnson and is very excited about the return of one of their best players.

"Just her presence being out there is nice," Reeve said. "Seimone is obviously not where she was when she first sustained the injury but it's a work in progress. It's just nice to see her out there."

Augustus was nothing but smiles today, as she prepared for her first game this year, against the defending champs.

"I'm just ready to get back out on the court," Augustus said. "It's been a challenge, but it's been a process that I've seen myself mature as a player and as a person so I guess I had to go through this process. You know, everything happens for a reason I'm through my finding moment, I've found myself and I'm ready to go."

Even though she was all business today at practice, Augustus hopes that she can bring back the spark her team needs to start winning games on a more consistent basis.

"I want my team to have fun," Augustus said. "I mean if you watched the games it's been real tight on us a lot of pressure you can tell the way that we're playing everybody's trying to do everything too fast hopefully I can just come out there and loosen everything up and have fun again."

She also shared some of the thoughts and feelings she has about returning to practice, and for their Thursday road game.

"Excitement, jitters, nerves, a little bit of everything running through my mind especially having to play in Phoenix where I got hurt so that's going to be a mental hurdle to get over, but once I get on the court and once I feel the ball tipoff I'm in my element in my zone."

Hopefully, she'll be the spark the Lynx need to get back on track.

Tipoff is set for 9:00 pm in Phoenix Thursday night.

Read the entire article: http://bit.ly/bW2UGZ
Augustus

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

Meek's great effort not quite enough for Mercury victory

The Phoenix Mercury lost a difficult 92-91 road game to the Los Angeles Sparks but not because of the effort of Temeka Johnson.  For the game, Meek tallied 13 points, passed for 7 assists, grabbed 5 rebounds and picked off three steals.  The World Champions however fell to 3-5 but now return home to play four straight home games.

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

Big Syl named WNBA Player of the Week!

NEW YORK, June 7, 2010 – Sylvia Fowles of the Chicago Sky and Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm were named the league’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week presented by Kia Motors, respectively, for regular season games played Monday, May 31 through Sunday, June 6.

For Fowles, the Player of the Week presented by Kia Motors award is the first of her career. The honor came after she led the league in both points (25.5) and blocks (2.5) per game, while also averaging 11.0 rebounds (third best), 1.5 steals and 1.0 assist per game in leading the Sky to a pair of wins. With an 80-70 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Dream in Atlanta and a 95-70 defeat of the visiting Tulsa Shock, Chicago lifted its record to 4-4 after stumbling from the blocks with a 0-4 mark.

After missing 17 games due to injury as a rookie in 2008 and another 10 last season, Fowles, the second overall selection in the 2008 Draft, is undeniably making her presence felt. A dominating effort in Chicago’s win over Tulsa included a career-high 32 points, 13 boards, four blocks and a steal. One day earlier, the LSU product poured in 19 points, grabbed nine rebounds and recorded two assists, two steals and a block to help drop Eastern Conference rival Atlanta. For the season, Fowles leads the league in blocks (2.5 per game), ranks fifth in scoring (19.9 ppg) and eighth in rebounds (8.5 rpg).

Lauren Jackson is the daughter of former Lady Tiger Maree Jackson

Sylvia_fowles800

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

Lady Tigers In The WNBA Update -- June 7, 2010

Lady Tigers In The WNBA Weekly Update – June 7, 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

Last Week:
June 4 at Phoenix (L, 89-90)    0 pts, 1 min.

This Week:
Tuesday, June 8 vs. Phoenix, 9:30 p.m. CT
Friday, June 11 at Seattle, 9 p.m. CT
Sunday, June 13 vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m. CT

Sylvia Fowles, Center
Chicago Sky

Sylvia Fowles continues to be one of the dominant forces in the WNBA. Fowles has reached double-figures in scoring in all eight games this season as her Chicago Sky are on a franchise-best four-game win streak after starting the season 0-4. Fowles poured in a game-high 19 points to give the Atlanta Dream only its second loss of the season on June 4. A day later, the former LSU All-American delivered the best outing of her career with 32 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks in a win over Tulsa on June 5. The Sky led from the start, taking a 16-6 lead on Fowles' rebound basket with 3:22 left in the first quarter. The 6-foot-6 center scored 11 points in the second quarter as Chicago led 41-34 at halftime. Fowles ranks fifth in the league in scoring (19.9 rpg) and eighth in rebounding (8.5 rpg).

Last Week:
June 4 at Atlanta  (W, 80-70)  19 pts, 2 reb, 2 asst, 2 stls, 1 blk, 8-of-14 FG, 35 min.
June 5 vs. Tulsa (W, 95-70)   32 pts, 13 reb, 4 blks, 1 stl, 12-of-16 FG, 30 min. 

This Week:
Tuesday, June 8 vs. New York, 7 p.m. CT 
Friday, June 11 vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m. CT 

Allison Hightower, Guard
Connecticut Sun

Allison Hightower’s Connecticut Sun own a 5-2 record on the season and sit in second place in the Eastern Conference standings. 

Last Week:
June 6 vs. San Antonio (W, 81-68)  0 pts, 1 steal, 1 min. 

This Week:
Friday, June 11 vs. Indiana, 6:30 p.m. CT
Sunday, June 13 at Indiana, 5 p.m. CT 
 
Temeka Johnson, Point Guard
Phoenix Mercury

Temeka Johnson’s Phoenix Mercury have dropped three of its last four games, but the former LSU point guard has been solid in leading the defending WNBA champions. Johnson has reached double-figures in scoring in three of her last four games. She has made her last nine free throws dating back to May 22. The Mercury withstood a late rally from Los Angeles on June 4 in a game where she dished out a team-high five assists to go along with 16 points. 

Last Week:
June 1 at Minnesota (L, 92-82)  14 pts, 5 assts, 4 reb, 4-of-10 FG, 2-of-2 3PT FG, 4-of-4 FT, 30 min
June 4 vs. Los Angeles (W, 90-89)  16 pts, 5 assts, 2 stls, 2 blks, 3 reb, 6-of-10 FG, 1-of-1 3PT, 3-of-3 FT, 31 min
June 6 at Seattle (L, 97-74)  9 pts, 4-of-9 FG, 1-of-3 3 PT FG, 19 min

This Week:

Tuesday, June 8 at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m. CT
Thursday, June 10 vs. Minnesota, 9 p.m. CT
Saturday, June 12 vs. Tulsa, 9 p.m. CT

Scholanda Robinson, Guard
Tulsa Shock

Scholanda Robinson scored 20 points and led five players in double figures and the Tulsa Shock topped the Minnesota Lynx 92-79 on June 5. The 20 points were a career-high for the former LSU standout. Her previous best was 17 points in a game against Atlanta during the 2008 season. Robinson followed that up with another double-figure game with 15 points in a loss to first-place Chicago on Saturday. Robinson is averaging 11.1 points per game this season.

Last Week:
June 4 vs. Minnesota (W, 92-79)  20 pts, 4 reb, 4 asst, 6-of-8 FG, 2-of-2 3 PT FG, 6-of-8 FT, 32 min
June 5 at Chicago (L, 95-70)  15 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast, 4-of-10 FG, 1-of-3 3 PT FG, 6-of-8 FT, 28 min

This Week:
Friday, June 11 at San Antonio, 7 p.m. CT
Saturday, June 12 at Phoenix, 9 p.m. CT 

Posted by Bill Martin  

Summer arrivals

Yesterday marked the return of the LSU Lady Tigers for the beginning of summer school.  The entire team reported back yesterday including all three new freshman who hit the campus for the first time officially as Lady Tigers.  Jeanne Kenney, Shanece McKinney and Theresa Plaisance were all accompanied by their mommas and assisted by their new teammates and coaching staff.  Today they go through physical exams, compliance paperwork and academics before attending summer school classes Monday morning.

Filed under  //  Team  
Posted by Bob Starkey