Ashley receives her Masters in Business Administration

Tonight Ashley Thomas received her Masters Degree in Business Administration.  It was fitting that Ashley walk across the stage in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center where she helped guide the Lady Tigers to four consecutive Final Fours and grab two SEC Championships as a three-year captain.  Ashley is what being a Lady Tiger is all about.  She gives her maximum best in ever phase of her life which is why she has been so successful on the court and in the classroom.  In true fashion, Ashley closed out her academic career at LSU by taking five course and 13 hours of graduate classes and all A's and a 4.0 grade point average.  Of course things will not slow down for Ashley who already has a new job in Virginia and will be getting married in June.

Filed under  //  Alumni  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Lady Tiger managers and their graduation thoughts

Today the LSU Lady Tiger basketball program had three of our managers to graduate.  Here are some thoughts that they shared:

Jerriel Bazile:  "I have enjoyed my time here at LSU and have built many lifelong relationships.  I can proudly say that I am a Lady Tiger fan for Life!"

 Ali Laughlin: "Thanks to everyone for making my last 4 years truly amazing!  I will never forget the people I have met or the experiences I have had, and can’t wait for what the future holds!

Ebonie Mathews: "I want to thank the LSU Lady Tiger Staff for granting me the opportunity to be a part of such a great program.  I have gained so much knowledge, life lessons, and built many relationships that will last me a lifetime.  I am truly blessed to have done it all 'The Lady Tiger Way'!"

Filed under  //  Alumni  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Alumni, Band Make Southeastern Victory Special

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BOB STARKEY (12-22-09):

The last game before Christmas break is never an easy one. For the players there is so much to think about with the holidays upon us. They are working to play good basketball but have also spent time shopping for Christmas and packing to go home for a few days. For six of our players, there has been winter session classes. Not because they need them, but because they wanted to get ahead academically -- which makes our staff very proud! With the Southeastern game there was a lot of extra curricular activity so we were grateful to leave the PMAC tonight with a nice victory. Another great aspect of our game tonight was all the Lady Tiger alumni that came out including players Quianna Chaney, Temeka Johnson, Tae Tae LeBlanc, Khalilah Mitchell and Mesha Williams. The mini alumni reunion also included past managers, Erica Killum, Angelica Lodge and Brittany Ward. Something else special happened last night (at least in the eyers of our coaching staff) that the normal fan might not have noticed or appreciated. The LSU Band was perched in their normal spot to provide music and entertainment for the game even though we are three days out of Christmas. We appreciated their dedication so before the game our staff bought the band some pizza and after the game Coach Chancellor took the team over to them so say thanks personally -- it's The Lady Tiger Way!

 

 

Filed under  //  Alumni   Off the Court  
Posted by Bill Martin  

Banquet Highlights the Inaugural Sue Gunter Classic

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BOB STARKEY (12-17-09):

Looking back on the first Sue Gunter Classic, one of the best memories I have is of the banquet. First and foremost, many thanks to Brittany Carvalhido and her managers for the countless hours in putting it together. It was special to see Skip Bertman, one of Coach Gunter's favorites attending and I had a chance to talk to Skip and hear some of his favorite Coach Gunter stories. Patrick Wright did a wonderful job as MC and share will all of us some his favorite Coach Gunter tales. A major highlight of the banquet was listening to Hall of Fame Doris Rogers who not only was a friend of Coach Gunters but a teammate at Nashville Business College. I learned two new things about Coach Gunter during Doris talk. The first was that she was an outstanding softball player. She batted second in the order and her role was to bunt the lead-off hitter over. And, in the true Coach Gunter fashion, she learned the skill to perfection. The other story that I first learned was that the night before she past, she told a friend of hers at the house, "to make some extra coffee for the morning because there will be a lot of people here." Even in passing Coach Gunter was taking care of us!

 

Filed under  //  Alumni   Off the Court   Sue Gunter  
Posted by Bill Martin  

Joyce Walker jersey to be retired at Garfield High School

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Before Garfield's boys basketball game against Lakes on Saturday, the Bulldogs are going to honor the past with their first basketball hall of fame inductions.

The school will recognize the 1974 "Superdogs" in a ceremony that begins at 7 p.m. That season Garfield finished unbeaten and is considered one of the best teams in state history.
Lakes coach JoJo Rodriguez was a player on that team and later, as the Bulldogs' coach, he led Garfield to the 1993 state championship.

The school is also retiring Joyce Walker's jersey. Walker graduated from Garfield in 1980 -- the Bulldogs won a championship that season -- before going on to become an All-American at LSU. She later became one of the first women to play with the Harlem Globetrotters and is widely considered the best female player to come out of Washington.

Like Rodriguez, Walker later coached her alma mater to a state title in 2005.

Garfield athletic director Jim Valiere said there will be music, videos and a slide show during the ceremony. The varsity game will start once the induction and jersey retirement is over.

Filed under  //  Alumni   Media  
Posted by Bill Martin  

Where are they now?

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For those that haven't heard, Lady Tiger alum Elaine Powell has retired from the professional basketball ranks and after a long and successful career in the WNBA and overseas. But she still loves the game and is utilizing her expertise to teach basketball on the collegiate level. Elaine is currently coaching at Grambling State University and is doing a great job.


From Kelly Morris of the Shreveporttimes.com:

The coach also has some added insight. WNBA veteran Elaine Powell begins her second year as her assistant coach. Powell didn't join last year's team until December. Powell was a LSU standout and played with Orlando and Detroit in the WNBA.

"The girls really look up to her," Drain-Rogers said. "She's done an amazing job and done well with recruiting. The girls relate to her. She's the youngest one on staff. I really feel my age some time. We've learned a lot from her."

Filed under  //  Alumni   Media  
Posted by Bill Martin  

The Kind of Lady Tiger Alumni I Want To Be

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KATHERINE GRAHAM (10-18-09):

Our team has had a great weekend. It's the first weekend of practice, we hung out together at the volleyball game, and celebrated Courtney Jones birthday as an entire team last night. But maybe the best part of going to Temeka's WNBA Celebration Party on Friday night. Meek means a lot to our team. We always have a lot of alumni stopping in to watching us practice or play. Coach Starkey always has them talk to us and it's a great way to learn about the legacy they left. But nobody has been more involved with us than Meek. She's always around. And when she's not she will call, text or email one of us to check on us. Even at the celebration she spoke directly to our team. She spoke from her heart about how much it meant to be a Lady Tiger and that we need to know that now to help us enjoy the experience even more. She started crying as she spoke and we all got teared up. She's the kind of Lady Tiger I want to be after I graduate -- one that continues to come back and give to those who were the Purple and Gold -- Meek has shown us that this is The Lady Tiger Way!

 

Filed under  //  Alumni   Player's Post   WNBA  
Posted by Bill Martin  

KRISTEN MORRIS VISITS FROM ACROSS THE OCEAN!

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COACH STARKEY (10-17-09):
We had a great surprise before practice today with Kristen Morris "called" from overseas to talk to our team. Gotta love Skype! Kristen over in Latavia playing and enjoying the experience -- I knew she would -- she always has a determined, positive attitude -- a really mentally tough individual! Everyone on the team got to talk to her before we got started and I think it really motivated our team to start of today's practice on a great note. Kristen was someone who gave her best everyday and I think "visiting" with her help refresh our team of her practice intensity. THANKS KRISTEN!

 

Filed under  //  Alumni   Off the Court  
Posted by Bill Martin  

ASHLEY DARVILLE -- ATTORNEY AT LAW!

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BOB STARKEY (10-9-09):
What a wonderful day in our women's basketball program...former head manager Ashley Darville passed her bar exam -- on the first time! She is such a special young woman with such an amazing future -- CONGRATULATIONS ASH!!!

Filed under  //  Alumni   In the Classroom  
Posted by Bill Martin