Duke football coach visits with the Lady Tigers

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VAN CHANCELLOR (3-19-10)
Had a great treat for our team today by inviting a dear friend of mine to come by and say hello. I've known David Cutcliffe from my Ole Miss days when he did a wonderful job of directing the Rebels football program. He's now the head football coach at Duke and doing a tremendous job battling in the ACC. He took the time out to come by and meet our team and tell them about our friendship that he was a big fan of Lady Tiger Basketball. I'm really proud to have David as a friend and glad I had the opportunity for him and our team to meet today.

Filed under  //  Media   NCAA Tournament   Off the Court   Van Chancellor  
Posted by Bill Martin  

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  

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  

"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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Posted by Bill Martin  

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  

Destini leading Lady Tigers with her defense

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The following our excerpts from an article by The Advocate's Scott Hotard. Read the entire article at: http://bit.ly/dxDPgB

Combining athletic bloodlines, the wisdom of a coach’s daughter and classroom smarts, Destini Hughes has all the earmarks of a defensive stopper.

Little wonder the Texas-bred point guard chose to attend LSU, the women’s basketball equivalent of Nebraska’s black shirts.

“Every time I watched them on TV, they were stressing defense,” Hughes said of the Lady Tigers.

LSU has led the Southeastern Conference in scoring defense the last six seasons. Back at it again, the Lady Tigers enter this week’s SEC tournament surrendering only 51.8 points per game.

Players like Hughes set the tone. Players who love to play defense.

Since her emergence last month as a full-time starter, Hughes has helped LSU win five of six games.

“She has given us somebody who can stop the ball,” LSU coach Van Chancellor said of Hughes.

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Posted by Bill Martin  

Lady Tigers model of consistency in SEC

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BILL MARTIN (SID):
Several streaks have continued for the LSU women’s basketball program following its strong finish to a 9-7 SEC record:

70 - number of SEC wins since 2005, which is the second most of any team in the sec.


9 - straight years of earning a bye in the SEC Tournament, the longest current streak in the SEC.

6 - out of last eight seasons LSU has finished with at least a share of second place in the SEC … Three of those finishes were as SEC champions.

6 - consecutive years LSU has led the SEC in scoring defense, which held true again this season after allowing 51.8 ppg .

7 - straight years of producing an All-SEC First Team selection after Allison Hightower was a unanimous choice for the second straight year.

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Posted by Bill Martin