LSU Lady Tigers Ranked No. 24 in Athlon Preseason Poll, Open Practice On Tuesday

A day prior to the first official practice of the season, the LSU women’s basketball team has earned a No. 24 preseason ranking in Athlon Sports Preseason Basketball Yearbook.

LSU, which finished the season ranked 25th in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll, returns four starters from a squad that reached the second round of the NCAA tournament. Two-time defending national champion Connecticut is atop the poll followed by Stanford and Tennessee. LSU faces the Lady Vols twice this season.

The Lady Tigers will also go up against five more teams in the Athlon poll, including No. 5 Ohio State in its home opener on Nov. 17 in the Maravich Center. No. 11 Kentucky, No. 13 UCLA, No. 20 Georgia and No. 23 Vanderbilt are all LSU opponents this season.

Naismith Hall of Fame head coach Van Chancellor welcomes back 11 letterwinners, who will take to the floor for the first official practice of the season at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the new LSU Basketball Practice Facility that opened last month. Chancellor enters his fourth season at the helm having compiled one of the best coaching records in school history with a 71-27 (.724) mark.

The Oct. 5 start date is the earliest in school history. According to a new NCAA rule policy adopted in April, women’s basketball teams across the nation can began practice after 5 p.m. on the date that is 40 days before the school’s first regular-season contest.  LSU opens the season at Northwestern (Ill.) on Nov. 14.

Katherine Graham is one of seven players on the squad with at least two years of experience at LSU. The 5-foot-11 senior averaged 8.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest. She entered the record books with just the third triple-double in school history.

“We have set the tone for practice by how hard we have worked this offseason,” Graham said. “It’s exciting to get back out there on the floor as a team. We have 30 practices in 40 days. We will have a chance to work on all of the things we wanted to improve on heading into this season. Our goal is to finish strong, and I am excited where we are at right now.”

Season tickets for the 2010-11 LSU women’s basketball season went on sale Monday starting at a special low price of $50. Tickets can be purchased online at LSUtix.net, by phone at 1-800-960-TKTS or 225-578-2184 or in person at the LSU Athletic Ticket Office on the first floor of the LSU Athletic Administration Building.

Athlon Magazine Preseason Poll
1. Connecticut*
2. Stanford
3. Tennessee*
4. Baylor
5. Ohio State*
6. Xavier
7. Texas A&M
8. Duke
9. West Virginia
10. Maryland
11. Kentucky*
12. Georgetown
13. UCLA*
14. Notre Dame
15. St. John’s
16. Oklahoma
17. Bowling Green
18. Iowa State
19. Florida State
20. Georgia*
21. Texas
22. Virginia
23. Vanderbilt*
24. LSU
25. Nebraska

Posted by Bill Martin  

Big Syl, Team USA capture GOLD at World Championships

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The USA Basketball Women’s World Championship Team (9-0) stormed out of the locker room at halftime on a 15-2 run to pull away from host Czech Republic (6-3) and finished the night with the eventual 89-69 gold medal victory at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. With the gold medal victory, played in front of a boisterous and deafening crowd of Czech supporters who never gave up hope on their squad, the USA became the first team to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games that will be held July 27-Aug. 12 in London, England.

“I thought the Czech team played with so much heart and so much passion and they’re so smart,” said USA and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma. “Every time you make a mistake, they make a basket. I can’t tell you with how impressed I am with coach (Lubor Blazek) and his style of play. That was the best team we played in the entire tournament, without question. We’re fortunate to be world champions. I know my players worked really, really hard. To do it here, in the Czech Republic, against the Czech national team, in front of an unbelievable crowd. The crowd last night was incredible and tonight was just as good. I think it makes this win even more rewarding because of who we had to beat and where we had to beat them.”

The American women now own a 97-21 (.822) all-time record since the first FIBA World Championship was held in 1953, earned their ninth straight podiumfinish at the Worlds dating to the 1979 tournament, and the 2010 gold medal represented a record eighth gold for the U.S. in World Championship competition.

 

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

Lady Tigers get enthusiastic visit from alum Kisha James

ADRIENNE WEBB: Former Lady Tiger, Kisha James, came and spoke to the team Friday afternoon. She talked about the time she spent here during her years as a LSU Lady Tiger. The injuries that she suffered from, the hard work she and former Lady Tigers have put in to help build the program that we have today, and how much LSU basketball program means to her. Listening to her talk, I realized Kisha really has a strong love for the program; she still an active supporter of our program and a season ticket holder. She, like some of the former player that have come back and speak with us, is a true testament to what The Lady Tiger Way means and more.

Posted by Bob Starkey 

GETTING TO KNOW: SWAYZE BLACK

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FAVORITE FOOD: Shrimp

FAVORITE DESERT: Ice Cream & Cookies

FAVORITE TV SHOW: The Game

FAVORITE MOVIE: Why Did I Get Married Too?

FAVORITE CLASS: Kin 2530 Sports in Society

FAVORITE NBA PLAYER: LeBron James

FAVORITE WNBA PLAYER: Sylvia Fowles

FAVORITE ATHLETE NOT A BASKETBALL PLAYER: Serena Williams

ALL-TIME FAVORITE LADY TIGER BASKETBALL PLAYER: Temeka Johnson

FAMILY MEMBER THAT MOST INFLUENCED YOU AS A BASKETBALL PLAYER: My dad

PERSON WHO MOST INFLUENCED YOUR OUTSIDE OF BASKETBALL: My mom

NAME TWO TALENTS THAT YOU POSSESS: Dancing & Drawing

NAME THREE THINGS THAT MADE LSU SPECIAL/DIFFERENT IN YOUR EYES:

1. Mike The Tiger

2. School spirit

3. The campus

NAME YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT NOT RELATED TO ATHLETICS:

2008 High School Homecoming Queen

Filed under  //  Player's Post  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Marie Ferdinand-Harris: Another Lady Tiger giving back to the community

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The following is an article written by Jeff B. Flinn, Editor of the Northeast Herald

It's a long way to the top, as they say — and Marie Ferdinand-Harris knows that as well as anyone. The guard for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks wants girls in the Judson School District to benefit from her message, her experience and her basketball skills.

“I started playing sports when I was in eighth grade and came from a family of seven kids, with a single mother working two jobs to make ends meet,' Ferdinand said. “I am where I am today ... because I didn't make excuses, I just found a way.”

Ferdinand left Miami Edison High School bound for LSU, where she became a three-year starter and a Kodak All-American, went to the WNBA and was later inducted into the LSU Sports Hall of Fame.

“I've always said, whenever I get to the pros and have the opportunity, I'm going to use sports as a vehicle to improve girls' playing abilities and help them shape their lives.”

The result is the Marie Ferdinand Basketball School of Excellence, which begins next week in the Judson School District.

The program begins with elementary students, age 8 and up, meeting for two hours every Monday at Masters Elementary. The middle school program meets for two hours on Tuesday and Saturday at Metzger Middle School. The high school-and-older group meets for two hours each Wednesday and Thursday at Judson High School.

Classes are limited to 30 girls per age grouping; registration costs $125 per player and forms are due Friday, available at www.marieferdinand.com.

“The classes are geared toward teaching the fundamentals; learning how to dribble left-handed, to do a left-handed layup, how to shoot properly,” said Ferdinand, in her fourth year with the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks after a three-year stint with the San Antonio Silver Stars. “It's great to see kids develop their shot. You need to fall in love with shooting, the form, the technique, in the very beginning.”

As players achieve goals and begin to grow, they show more determination, she said, gaining a sense of discipline, and becoming more confident, becoming leaders — “all of these are skills I learned through basketball.”

“I'm so passionate about this. Basketball has done so much for me,” she said. “I want these girls to see that this is available to them, they can do the same thing as me.

Filed under  //  Alumni   Community   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Big Syl goes for the Gold on NBA-TV today at 1:00 PM

LSU's Sylvia Fowles and Team USA will battle host Czech Republic (6-2)  for the gold medal at 8:00 p.m. (:00 p.m. CST) on Oct. 3 in Karlovy Vary.  The USA's final game, which will be played in front of a raucous crowd of Czech supporters, will air live on NBA TV, and fans can also watch live streaming of all FIBA World Championship games at www.FIBATV.com.

Usab_logo-3x3

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

Big Syl helpd Team USA advance to Gold Medal game in the World Championships

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After opening the game shooting 5-of-5 from the field to ignite an 11-1 run, the USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team (8-0) steadily improved its advantage throughout to easily secure a 106-70 win over Spain (6-2) that featured points from all 12 players and earned the USA its place in the 2010 FIBA World Championship gold medal game.

"I thought we played really, really well on offense," said USA and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma. "Our defense got better and better as the game went on. We're about as ready as we can be going into tomorrow night."

The USA will battle host Czech Republic (6-2), which earlier today outlasted Belarus (4-4) 81-77 in overtime, for the gold medal at 8:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. EDT) on Oct. 3 in Karlovy Vary; while Spain will meet Belarus to play for bronze at 5:30 p.m. (11:30 EDT). The USA's final game, which will be played in front of a raucous crowd of Czech supporters, will air live on NBA TV, and fans can also watch live streaming of all FIBA World Championship games at www.FIBATV.com.

"Tomorrow night's going to be one of the most difficult challenges for this team," Auriemma continued. "You're playing the Czech Republic on their home court, with all their fans, in kind of a Cinderella run for them to get to this point. I think the emotions and the energy in this building is going to be a great place to be tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to it."

Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), who was 3-of-4 from 3-point, led four U.S. players in double figures with 14 points. That was followed by Sylvia Fowles (LSU/Chicago Sky) with 13 points and a game-high six rebounds, Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream) with 11 points and three steals and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) with 11 points and four assists.

Was the game as easy as you thought it would be?
Syl: No, it wasn’t easy. You have to go out there and be focused, but at the same time coach was on our butt, and he wants us to do exactly what he said to do. It was hard at times, but at the same time we were just playing USA Basketball.

You make it look so easy.
Syl: That’s funny that you say that. We haven’t been together that long. It’s all about trust and trusting these girls out there while you’re out there on the court with them. You just have to go with your gut feeling, go out there and play.

Are you looking forward to playing the home team tomorrow for the gold medal?
Syl: That’s what we’re here for. We prepared the whole time to come here to play this game, with their crowd, on their floor. It’s going to be very interesting. We’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be hard, but we’re willing to work for it.

Are you preparing any special tactics for this game?
Syl: Nothing special. We just have to go out and play the way we’re capable of playing. We’re going to play our game.

On the aggressive play of the USA’s post players:
Syl: Compared to a lot of people, we’re small. Coach always stresses to go out there and give it everything that you have. You just have to give 110 percent until you get tired and he pulls you out and put someone else in.

Did the 3-point scoring get started with the post play and enabled the perimeter to open it up?
Syl: Most definitely. When you going inside-out, it gets you going. But I think most definitely our defense set the tone on the other end. Once our defense is going, our offense just gets flowing on the other side.

Box Score: http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/national/10_wwc_game_08_box.html

Posted by Bob Starkey 

Meek takes part in Magnolia Woods Elementary Literacy Book Fair

TEMEKA JOHNSON: I had a great time at Magnolia Woods Elementary last night.  You can see by the photos all the fun that I had at the Literacy Book Fair Event. Teachers dressed up as their favorite characters and I got to read my book (Meek Moments Decisions Decisions Decisions) to the 2nd and 5th grade parents/kids/teachers. They really enjoyed the book and me being there but I enjoyed them even more. Praying that I get to get back there and do something with them before I leave out to play overseas!

Posted by Bob Starkey 

Big Syl helps Team USA to key win over Australia in World Championships

Led by 24 points from Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) the USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team (6-0) remained undefeated and earned an 83-75 win after fending off a second-half surge from Australia (5-1) to wrap up the second round of the 2010 FIBA World Championship on Wednesday night in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

With the victory, the USA is the No. 1 seed out of Group E and will face South Korea (3-3), the No. 4 seed out of Group F, in the medal round quarterfinals on Friday, Oct. 1 (time TBD) in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. All of the USA's games will air live on NBA TV, and fans can also watch live streaming of all FIBA World Championship games at www.FIBATV.com.

The USA also received double-digit scoring from Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), who was 6-of-7 from the field for 15 points to go with her six rebounds, and Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), who finished with 14 points.

With the USA leading by as many as 24 points in the second period and by 15 points at the start of the fourth quarter, Australia twice cut the USA's lead to nine points in the last 2:26 of the game and closed the gap to eight with a 3-pointer at 54.0 seconds remaining that brought the game to its 83-75 final.

"I think it was surprising," Auriemma said. "The first half, the first quarter especially, I thought we came out and played great and did a lot of really, really good things offensively and defensively. Played with a lot of confidence, and I thought the second half was more like what I thought the whole game would be like - very, very physical, very difficult for either team to get great shots."

Sylvia Fowles (LSU/Chicago Sky)
Opening comments:
As a team I think we started off very well, got the ball moving, knocking down a couple easy shots and utilizing what we do well.

On guarding the 6-8 Liz Cambage:
It’s something different. She’s a big body you have to go up against. She’s very physical and you just have to get after her, if not then she will embarrass you and I’m not trying to get embarrassed.

What did you learn about your team, what do you take away from this game?
First of all, just knowing what we can do as a team and continue that energy in the second half and just think about what Australia did in the second half and utilize that. Make sure we cut down on our turnovers and do what we do well.

Are you feeling more comfortable out there? You seem to be getting back in the flow of things.
Yes, I’m feeling very comfortable. The first few games trying to get back it was more of a rush and not taking my time. I was doing a lot of stupid things. I was talking to my assistant coaches and getting some input and how they feel about what I was doing on the floor. I took that into perspective, I took it in stride and I’m just taking my time playing my game.

Posted by Bob Starkey 

Capital Area Tigers donate $6,000 to LSU Women's Basketball

BATON ROUGE -- Members of the Capital Area Tigers chapter of Tiger Athletic Foundation got a first-hand look at the new LSU Basketball Practice Facility and the 2010-11 LSU Lady Tigers during a one-hour practice before surprising the program with a generous $6,000 donation during a banquet Tuesday night at the Maravich Center.

Over 100 people turned out for "A Night with Lady Tiger Basketball" that included a dinner prepared by Drusilla Seafood and Chico Moore, vice president of Capital Area Tigers. The group toured the atrium of the practice facility that features historic displays and great moments in Lady Tiger history. They also saw the new 11,324 square foot practice gymnasium.

Beth Tope, president of the Capital Area Tigers, then presented head coach Van Chancellor with the donation that will be used to purchase new state-of-the-art practice equipment.

"This is a tremendous surprise and I sincerely say thank you from all of us," Chancellor said. "This means a lot to our program. We are so proud to have the support of all of you. I know this team appreciates it.

"Our team does it the right way. We are 11 of 11 here in graduation, and we have four seniors who are close to graduation who will make us 15 of 15. Our team is involved with charity and in situations to help others. These players sacrifice a lot and work hard, and we want you to know that."

Chancellor introduced the entire coaching staff and gave everyone a preview of what to expect this season. The Hall of Famer then passed the mic onto senior guard Katherine Graham, who introduced the entire squad.

"On behalf of this team, we really appreciate this turnout not only tonight but all season," Graham said. "For all of the things you have done over the years, we want to just show our appreciation and tell you thanks. Thank you for this donation. This will mean so much to our program and future Lady Tigers."

Posted by Bob Starkey