Posing for ESPN

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KATHERINE GRAHAM (3-19-10):

Today Allison, Boogie, and I did a photo shoot for ESPN. They had us doing various things with a basketball and just acting crazy and dancing, and if you have made a game this year you know Allison did not disappoint on the dancing end. Although Boogie doesn't quite have the moves like Allison, she held her ground as well. Hopefully you will get the chance to see the clips on T.V. so tun into our game Saturday morning...until next time Lady Tiger Fans!

 

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Posted by Bill Martin  

Allison named WBCA State Farm All-Region III team

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ATLANTA -- The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), in cooperation with State Farm, announced the All-Region nominees for the 2010 State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. LSU senior guard Allison Hightower was one of seven players named to the Region 3 team.

The State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team selection committee will review these 52 candidates and cut the list to 40 finalists on Tuesday, March 23. The 40 finalists will all be in the running for selection to the 10-member State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team.

The State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team for NCAA Division I will be announced in the Alamodome on Center Court between open practices on Saturday, April 3, at 1:05 p.m. CT as a part of the NCAA’s Super Saturday events in San Antonio, Texas.

Hightower has followed up her 2009 State Farm Honorable Mention All-American season with one of the finest senior seasons in LSU history.

Hightower LSU in points (18.5), 3-point field goal percentage (39.6), steals (2.1) and minutes played (32.3). The Arlington, Texas, native ranks second in the SEC in overall scoring and second in conference only scoring (19.6). Her 18.5 point per game average is the highest by an LSU player since Seimone Augustus’ National Player of the Year senior season of 2005-06.

Hightower is the only player in the SEC to rank in the top six in scoring (second), 3-point field goal percentage (third) and steals (sixth). She owns 11 20-plus point games this season and was LSU’s leading scorer in 11 of its 16 conference games. Hightower is the 14th all-time leading scorer in LSU history with 1,479 points heading into the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

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Posted by Bill Martin  

The special fans of Lady Tiger Basketball

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VAN CHANCELLOR (3-16-10):
As our team prepares for our 13th consecutive NCAA tournament, I can't help but stop and thank all of our great fans. The people that love and support the Lady Tiger Basketball team are what makes our program so very special. I was reminded of that last night at our Fast Break Club's Selection Monday Spectacular. There was a huge crowd and you can geniunely see how much that care about our players. And then I got reminded today. While leaving the Athletic Administration Building I ran into a family (pictured above) coming to see us about their daughters becoming managers. They were so excited to be a part of Lady Tiger Basketball -- and so am I!

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Posted by Bill Martin  

Allison a finalist for the John Wooden Award

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LOS ANGELES -- The John R. Wooden Award Committee announced the student-athletes named to the official 2010 John R. Wooden Award National Ballot on Tuesday, and LSU's Allison Hightower is one of 22 players who have earned a spot on the list.

The ballot decides the Women's 2010 Wooden Award All-American Team and Player of the Year, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate female basketball player.

Hightower is one of only two Southeastern Conference players to make the final ballot, joining Tennessee's Shekinna Stricklen. LSU has produced two Wooden Award winners in its history as Seimone Augustus claimed the prestigious honor in 2005 and 2006.

Hightower has been the Lady Tigers most valuable player the past two seasons. She leads the team in points (18.5), 3-point field goal percentage (39.6), steals (2.1) and minutes played (32.3). The Arlington, Texas, native ranks second in the SEC in overall scoring and second in conference only scoring (19.6).

Hightower is the only player in the SEC to rank in the top six in scoring (second), 3-point field goal percentage (third) and steals (sixth). She owns 11 20-plus point games this season and was LSU's leading scorer in 11 of its 16 conference games. Hightower is the 14th all-time leading scorer in LSU history with 1,479 points heading into the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

A distinguished panel of voters, comprised of sports media members and college basketball experts from around the nation, have until 3 p.m. EST on Monday, March 30 to cast their votes, a long voting period that allows voters to evaluate players up through games of the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. All players on the ballots have proven to their universities that they are making progress toward graduation and are maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA.

The 34th annual Wooden Award ceremony, which will include the announcement of the Men's and Women's Wooden Award winner, will take place on April 9, 2010.


Read the entire release along with the other finalists: http://bit.ly/dkdmlp

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Posted by Bill Martin  

Allison named to SEC First Team by the Associate Press

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Allison Hightower was named to the Associated Press first team All-SEC. Along with Player of the Year Victoria Dunlap, Allison was the only other player to be a unanimous selection. Early Allison was named first-team through the vote of the SEC coaches.


AP All-SEC First Team
Victoria Dunlap, Kentucky*
Allison Hightower, LSU*
Bianca Thomas, Ole Miss
Angie Bjorklund, Tennessee
Kelley Cain, Tennessee

AP All-SEC Second Team
Ashley Houts, Georgia
Kelsey Bone, South Carolina
Shekinna Stricklen, Tennessee
Alexis Rack, Mississippi State
Jence Rhoads, Vanderbilt

AP SEC Player of the Year
Victoria Dunlap, Kentucky
AP SEC Newcomer of the Year
Kelsey Bone, South Carolina

AP SEC Coach of the Year
Matthew Mitchell, Kentucky

* indicates unanimous selection

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Posted by Bill Martin  

Lady Tigers host the Fast Break Club in annual Selection Monday Spectacular

As had become a tradition for the past 13 years, the LSU Lady Tigers basketball team opened their NCAA selection party to our Fast Break Club. The 13th Annual Selection Monday Spectacular was held in the Lawton Room to a capactiy crowd. The evening always starts with food and camaraderie in which our team and FBC members get another chance to hang out and be with each other. We then move to the theater to watch the ESPN Selection Show live on the big screen and together we all learned we were a 7th seed and playing Hartford in Durham, North Carolina. The event is then followed by a press conference with Coach Chancellor and our players and set up by our SID Bill Martin. It is certainly one of the most exciting times of the year and we are thankful that so many of our supporters joined us.

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Lady Tigers to learn NCAA plans on "Selection Monday"

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BATON ROUGE -- After posting a 20-9 overall record and a winning record in Southeastern Conference play for the 12th straight season, a 12th consecutive trip to the “Big Dance” awaits the LSU women’s basketball team. The Lady Tigers will learn of their 2010 NCAA Tournament destination as a likely at-large selection at 6 p.m. CT Monday on ESPN’s “Selection Monday Special.”

LSU is vying for its 20th overall NCAA Tournament berth, and the Lady Tigers are 37-19 all-time in 19 previous appearances. A 12th straight trip would be the third longest streak in the SEC.

LSU has reached at least the second round of the tournament all 11 of those seasons. Five of them have ended at the Final Four. No school in America has reached more NCAA Division I Final Fours since 2004.

Last season, LSU defeated Green Bay in the first round before losing to eventual national championship game participant Louisville in the second round at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Lady Tigers have played their last two first and second rounds in Baton Rouge, but this season LSU will be on the road for the first time since heading to Austin, Texas, in 2007.

Eight pre-determined sites will host first and second round games on March 20 and 22 and they include: Stanford, Calif.; Berkeley, Calif.; Durham, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Louisville, Ky.; Seattle, Wash.; Tallahassee, Fla.; and Tempe, Ariz. The eight other sites will host games on March 21 and 23 and they include: Ames, Iowa; Austin, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Minneapolis, Minn.; Norfolk, Va.; Norman, Okla.; Notre Dame, Ind.; and Pittsburgh, Penn.

Winners advance to the four regional sites to be played March 27-30 at either Memphis, Tenn.; Sacramento, Calif.; Dayton, Ohio; and Kansas City, Mo. The 2010 NCAA Final Four will be played on April 4 in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.


NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Special at a Glance
March 15, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN and ESPN360.com; Extended coverage, 8 p.m. ESPNU

--Exclusive interview with NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee Chair Jane Meyer;

--Live interviews and reactions from coaches, including Connie Yori of Nebraska, one of only two undefeated teams in the country;

--Opening tease to the show: Darius Rucker’s “History in the Making.”

Selection Monday on ESPN.com
--Expert analysis from Graham Hays and Mechelle Voepel, including their picks on the toughest region, best first-round game, Women’s Final Four and more;
--Predictions and analysis from women’s basketball bracketologist Charlie Creme, who will also take a look ahead at the worst- and best-case scenarios for all 64 teams;

--Live chat at 9:30 p.m. ET with NCAA Div. I Women’s Basketball Committee Chair Jane Meyer.

ESPNU Coaches Spotlight: Women’s Tournament Edition
The three-hour special ESPNU Coaches Spotlight: Women’s Tournament Edition on Tuesday, March 16, at 3 p.m. on ESPNU will attempt to interview 32 coaches and discuss other top stories. Beth Mowins and Cara Capuano will interview the coaches during the show, while Abby Waner will be the in-studio analyst. Lawson and Peck will join the show from Bristol.

Women’s Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com
Sign-up has begun on ESPN.com for the 14th annual ESPN Women’s Tournament Challenge. The Tournament Challenge game is free and allows contestants to submit up to 10 entries. Fans complete and submit a bracket of hypothetical tournament outcomes. Points are awarded for each correct pick, with point values increasing as the Tournament progresses.

The Women’s Tournament Challenge winner will receive 3,000 ESPN Winner’s Circle points, which are redeemable for prizes on the ESPN Winner’s Circle Web site. Entries for the Women’s Tournament Challenge will be accepted until just before tipoff of the first game Saturday, March 20.

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Posted by Bill Martin  

"The perfect senior player"

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The following comes from an article in the LSU Daily Reville:

That’s how LSU women’s basketball coach Van Chancellor described guard Allison Hightower, the lone senior Lady Tiger this season.

She has been to two Final Fours in her LSU career and has evolved into the face of the Lady Tigers.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a player who’s going to be as hard to replace,” Chancellor said. “[Former LSU center] Sylvia Fowles was a great player, but Allison does everything — a great defensive player, great offensive player and handles the basketball. She does it all.”

Hightower will have no trouble being remembered as one of the Lady Tiger greats. She was named to the Freshman All-Southeastern Conference team in 2007, won the SEC Sixth Woman of the Year award in 2008 and received First-Team All-SEC honors as a junior and senior.

The Arlington, Texas, native also scored her 1,000th career point Nov. 22 against Nicholls State and holds the school record for blocked shots by a guard with 88. Hightower said she wants people to remember her as a selfless player who loves the game of basketball.

“I want to be known as a person that made a big impact and continued to carry this legacy of Coach [Sue] Gunter,” Hightower said. “I just want to be known as a hard worker who always had passion for the game and wanted to do everything for my teammates.”

Hightower said one of her favorite memories as a Lady Tiger was reaching the Final Four in her freshman season by upsetting then-No. 1 UConn, 73-50.

“It was really emotional because it was my first Final Four, and I wanted to get one so bad,” Hightower said. “As a team we came closer, and it was a huge win.”


Read the entire article at: http://bit.ly/dhqr4k

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Allison names to SEC Community Service Team

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- LSU senior guard Allison Hightower has been recognized for her efforts in the community as she was named to the 2010 Southeastern Conference's Women's Basketball Community Service Team, the league office has announced.

In a continuing effort to recognize the accomplishments of student-athletes beyond the field of competition, the SEC once again highlighted a Community Service Team for women's basketball for the 2009-2010 season.

Hightower has played an important role in the Lady Tigers' community service efforts her entire career. She is a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, which recognizes excellence on and off the court. Fans can vote for Hightower at www.seniorclassaward.com/vote. Fans can text W7 to 74567 to vote for Hightower from mobile devices.

Hightower has visited Baton Rouge area schools and been a leader in the Lady Tigers' "Grades, Perseverance and Education" (GPA) program that was launched last summer. The GPA program was established as a partnership between LSU women's basketball and the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.

Hightower joined former LSU star and 2009 WNBA champion Temeka Johnson and her H.O.P.E. Foundation in speaking to schools around the Baton Rouge area about the importance of getting an education. The group also donated shoes to deserving children at Magnolia Woods Elementary School.

Hightower has spent time in classrooms and the gymnasium at Southeast Middle School where she addressed students on the importance of hard work and getting an education. The senior was adopted by the school and she has routinely made visits since the fall.

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Posted by Bill Martin  

LSU Signee Plaisance grabs state title and MVP honors

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HAMMONDTheresa Plaisance of Houma’s Vandebilt Catholic was selected as the Most Valuable Player for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association-State Farm Ladies’ Top 28 Tournament.

Plaisance, an LSU signee, scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds in the Terriers’ 70-51 victory over Jennings in the Class 4A title game played Saturday night Southeastern Louisiana University’s University Center. She leads a 13-member all-tournament team selected by the media covering the event.

Joining Plaisance, also voted the Class 4A title game’s Outstanding Player, were the Outstanding Player winners in the other six title games: Skylar Chenevert of Plainview in Class C, Taylor Maricle of Fairview in Class B, Shlonté Allen of Arcadia in 1A, Rebekah Greer of St. Thomas Aquinas in 2A, Elexar Tugler in 3A and Brandy Broome of Natchitoches Central in 5A.

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Posted by Bill Martin