Lady Tigers all over stat leaders in WNBA; Big Syl most efficient

SCORING: Desptie missing the early part of the season with surgery, Seimone Augustus is currently 6th in the WNBA in scoring at 19.2 points a game.  Right behind her in the 7th spot is Sylvia Fowles at 18 points a game.  Scholanda Robinson ranks 30th with 11.8 points a game.

WNBA SCORING STATS: http://bit.ly/b7EnUo

REBOUNDING: Sylvia Fowles is 4th in the WNBA in rebounding grabbing 12.7 boards a game.

WNBA REBOUNDING STATS: http://bit.ly/d0iGxe

FG%: Syl is 5th in FG% among players in 10 games or more hitting 58.9% of her shots.  Mone is 37th hitting 47.5%

WNBA FG% STATS: http://bit.ly/cGS2fO

BLOCKED SHOTS: Big Syl leads the W with 2.75 swats a game.

WNBA BLOCKED SHOTS: http://bit.ly/9l02Lw

3 PT SHOOTING %: Believe it or not, Big Syl leads the WNBA in 3-Point Shooting % after hitting her only attempt this past weekend for a perfect 100%. Seimone, shooting 41.9% is ranked 20th.  Roneeka Hodges is his hitting 34.7 and is ranked 49th.

WNBA 3 PT SHOOTING %: http://bit.ly/aehp4P

ASSISTS: Temeka Johnson is 4th in the WNBA in assists at 5.36.

WNBA ASSISTS: http://bit.ly/d0MDnD

STEALS: Scholanda Robinson is 20th in the WNBA in steals at 1.5.

WNBA STEALS: http://bit.ly/9LenYQ

DOUBLE DOUBLES: Big Syl is second in the WNBA in double-doubles with 11.  Temeka Johnson is 12th with 3 but doing it the hard way with points and assists -- she is first among guards.

WNBA DOUBLE-DOUBLES: http://bit.ly/abksuT

EFFICIENCY: In arguably the most important statistical category as it combines all the others, the WNBA is leader is Sylvia Fowles with a rating of 25.2! Seimone Augustus ranks 16th with a rating of 15.0. Temeka Johnson is 40th at 10.3

WNBA EFFICIENCY: http://bit.ly/cbJYqd

Wnba_lsu_report

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

Mone, Syl, Marie, Meek and Sho shine in big weekend in WNBA

Starting back to Thursday the Los Angeles Sparks defeated Tulsah 86-83 with Marie Ferdinand-Harris hitting 2 of 3 behind the 3-point arc.  The Shock were lead by Scholanda Robinson who poured in 19 points.

LA/Tulsa Box: http://bit.ly/byQqVI

On Friday, the Chicago Sky lost a tough one to the New York Liberty but not because of the effort of Sylvia Fowles.  Big Syl registered yet another double-double with  12 points and 16 43bounds to go long with 4 blocked shots.

Chicago/NY Box: http://bit.ly/c8awgS

Yesterday, LA registered another win as the Sparks hit 15 three-pointers in the game.  Part of the credit for the long-range success belongs to Marie who again hit 2 of 3 behind the act as LA defeated Connecticut 89-80.

LA/Connecticut Box: http://bit.ly/bs4Lh7

Sylvia Fowles scored 23 points and the Chicago Sky overcame an eight-point deficit in the final 3:10 to beat the San Antonio Silver Stars 75-72 on Saturday night.  The Sky have won four of their last five. Roneeka Hodges scored 13 points  to lead the Silver Stars (8-14). Hodges missed a potential tying 3 and Fowles grabbed the rebound as time expired.

Chicago/San Antonio Box: http://bit.ly/9P9Ee7

Despite a season-high 36 points from Seimone Augustus, the Phoenix Mercury set the WNBA scoring record with a 127-124 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday night.  In one of the most exciting games of the season, the Mercury, lead by Temeka Johnson among others, rallied from 14 points down in the 4th quarter.

Augustus scored 15 points in the third quarter to key a Minnesota rush after Phoenix got within four points early in the second half.

A pair of long jumpers by Augustus sandwiched around one of her five 3-pointers gave the Lynx a 79-66 lead. After Phoenix scored six straight, Augustus hit another long jumper to put Minnesota up nine.

Augustus scored seven of Minnesota's points during a 13-4 run for a 45-28 lead midway through the second quarter. Phoenix used a 10-2 run to pull to 54-47 at halftime.

Meek scored 7 points and added a game high 9 assists including a key long pass to start the Mercury comeback.

Pheonix/Minnesota Box: http://bit.ly/c5dQ6q

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

Four Lady Tigers in action tonight in the WNBA

Seimone Augustus and Minnesota host the WNBA's best team to date in Seattle at 2:30 PM EST.

Preview: http://bit.ly/bnhEau

Allsion Hightower and Connecticut start a 5-game road stand against Atlanta this evening at 6:00 PM EST.

Preview: http://bit.ly/bRBRdr

And in Phoenix tonight at 9:00 CST two Lady Tigers go head-to-head when Temeka Johnson leads the Mercury against Tulsa and Scholanda Robinson.

Preview: http://bit.ly/bcDJo3

There's no television for any of these games but you can follow them at WNBA.com

Wnba_ball_2

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

Lots of Lady Tigers in matinee action today in the W

All afternoon games today in the WNBA and lots of Lady Tigers playing:

Roneeka Hodges takes San Antonio to Chicago to play against Sylvia Fowles at 11:30 AM.

Allison Hightower and Connecticut are on the road at Indiana at noon.

Atlanta travels to Minnesota to battle Seimone Augustus and the Lynx at noon.

Temeka Johnson and Phoenix host Seattle at 2:30 PM.

Follow the scores and stats at: http://bit.ly/9AhpZf

Wnba_ball

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

Mone, Syl, Team USA to play exhibition games in September

In its final domestic tune-up prior to the 2010 FIBA World Championship, the USA Basketball Women’s National Team will host Australia and Spain in a pair of exhibition contests at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn., on Sept. 10 and 12, USA Basketball and the XL Center today announced. The U.S. will take on defending world champion Australia on Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. (all times EDT) and Spain, the No. 5-ranked women’s program in the world, on Sept. 12 (time TBD). Tickets will go on sale this Friday, July 16 at 10:00 a.m. and will be available online at www.ticketmaster.com, through Ticketmaster charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and in person at the XL Center box office. Ticket prices range from $75, $50, $30, $20 and $10 respectively, additional fees may apply.   

In addition to the USA exhibition games, the University of Hartford will play host to an exhibition between Australia and Spain on Sept. 11 at 2:00 p.m.

“One of the things you always want to do is to try to play some really good competition leading up to the (FIBA) World Championship,” said 2009-12 USA Basketball Women’s National Team and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma. “Usually those games are held overseas where we don’t have a lot of fans. It’s fortunate for us that we’re able to get teams of the caliber of Spain and Australia, two of the top five teams in the world, to come to Hartford and play exhibition games. I think people here in the Hartford area, in Connecticut especially, appreciate women’s basketball as much, if not more, than any other place in the country. I think those two teams will get a great reception and people will get a chance to see what we’re going to be seeing in the Czech Republic. I’m excited for our team. I’m excited for our fans. I’m excited for the city of Hartford, and I’m really appreciative of the XL Center for working with us to put that together.”

The U.S. has faced Australia 14 times in exhibition games and official FIBA events over the past decade. In addition to the USA’s victories over Australia in each of the last three Olympic gold medal games, the U.S. in 2002 defeated Australia 71-56 in the FIBA World Championship semifinal contest, and owns an 8-2 record over Australia in various exhibition games since the turn of the century.

The USA and Spain are less familiar as the teams have played each other just five times since 2000. The USA topped Spain 90-56 and 94-55 at the 2006 and 2002 FIBA World Championship, respectively, collected a pair of Olympic victories over Spain in 2004 (71-58) and 2008 (93-55), and defeated Spain 77-61 in a 2004 pre-Olympic exhibition game.

Members of the 2009-12 USA Basketball Women’s National Team are Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Alana Beard (Washington Mystics), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Swin Cash (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Shameka Christon (Chicago Sky), Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Lindsey Harding (Washington Mystics), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Kara Lawson (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun), Maya Moore (University of Connecticut), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty), Diana Taurasi  (Phoenix Mercury), Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx) and Candice Wiggins (Minnesota Lynx).

Seimonesylviateamusaolympics08

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

Mone, Queen shine in head-to-head WNBA battle

Seimone Augustus scored 15 points, grabbed 5 boards and passed off for 5 assists to help Minnesota to an 89-66 victory over San Antonio.  San Antionio was lead in scoring by Roneeka Hodges who also had 15 points hitting 6 of 10 from the field and 3 of 5 from behind the arc. Queen hit for 13 of her 15 points in the first half to keep San Antonio in the game.

Game story and box score: http://bit.ly/9sqZAG

Mone

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

Seimone looks to help find cure, raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis

From Robin Fambrough of The Advocate:

Championships have always been at the heart of Seimone Augustus’ dreams.

Two surgeries in a 12-month period — one to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and the other to remove noncancerous fibroids from her abdomen and back — would end the dreams of some.

The 26-year-old former Capitol High and LSU standout isn’t your typical athlete. Her dreams are more vivid and defined than ever.

There are still visions of championships for the star of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. Augustus’ dreams now have a deeper driving force.

A season-ending ACL injury in June 2009 was followed by news that her father, Seymore, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“I talk to my parents six or seven times a day,” Augustus said. “My dad has good days and bad days. Overall he’s doing better. He’s stubborn and he’s not about to let this get him down. My mom (Kim) is our rock. That’s motivation for me.”

Recovery from knee surgery kept Augustus from coming to Baton Rouge last summer. Instead, she researched multiple sclerosis.

Before she scanned the Internet, Augustus learned that Sherie Starkey, the wife of LSU women’s basketball assistant Bob Starkey, also has MS, and is also a breast cancer survivor. The Starkeys became valuable advisers for the Augustus family.

“I knew she (Sherie Starkey) had breast cancer, and when I found out she has MS, I was shocked,” Augustus said. “It affects more people than you think.”

Through research, talks with doctors and others such as Bob Starkey, Augustus learned about the various types of multiple sclerosis.

Seymore Augustus has a relapsing-remitting form. Periods with no problems are followed by those with symptoms including severe headaches, vision problems and loss of muscle strength.

Augustus wants to start a foundation to help find an MS cure. She is surveying options much like she does before executing a signature fade-away jumper.

Her dreams are shaded with orange. One day, she hopes the WNBA and others use it as a symbol.

“Orange is the color for MS just like pink is for breast cancer,” Augustus said. “What we do for breast cancer is so important. I’d love to see us do the same thing for MS in the WNBA. We could wear orange shoes, shoelaces and ribbons. It’s important to raise awareness.”

Augustus remains focused on basketball. The Lynx (5-11) are battling for a playoff berth. Augustus is averaging a team-high 17.6 points per game in seven games since her second surgery.

“I’m about 75 or 80 percent,” Augustus said. “I feel better every day. The hardest thing is getting back to playing at a high level.

Read Robin's entire article at: http://bit.ly/9oDlW3

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

LSU's big 3 (Augustus, Fowles, Johnson) put up big numers in W action last night

Last night, in Chicago's victory over league-leading Connecticut, Sylvia Fowles did everything but work the concession stands at half-time.  Big Syl's stat line against the first play Sun was spectacular hitting 11 of 14 shots, 4 of 5 free throws, grabbing 11 rebounds, blocking 5 shots, and passing off for 4 assists.

Guards Erin Thorn and Jia Perkins added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Forwards Sandrine Gruda and Asjha Jones led the Sun (10-6) with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Sun rookie center Tina Charles, the WNBA's No. 1 draft pick, was frustrated into foul trouble early on and limited to five points, on 2-for-9 shooting, and six rebounds. She came in averaging 15.9 points and 12.5 rebounds.

''I had no personal inspiration going up against Charles,'' said Fowles, who earlier in the day was named to Team USA for the game against WNBA stars on July 10. ''She's a very good player. I just wanted to do my best and slow things down and not necessarily stop her because she's usually going to get her points.''

Allison Hightower played little but made the most of her opportunity hitting a 3-pointer on her only field goal attempt.

Chicago/Connecticut Box & Game Story: http://bit.ly/cuPoMW

Temeka Johnson turned in her consecutive double-double effort last night but it was enough as Washington outscored Phoenix 107 to 104.  Meek was 6 of 10 from the floor including a three-point and chalked up 11 assists.

Phoenix Box & Game Story: http://bit.ly/9dIV4o

In Atlanta, Seimone Augusuts lead Minnesota with 17 points but it wasn't enough to defeat the dream. Mone was 8 of 15 from the floor and grabbed 3 boards and added to steals:

Minnesota Box & Game Story: http://bit.ly/9voMc4

 

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

Seimone does Twitter Q&A for WNBA

Via the WNBA website, Mone does a Q&A via Twitter.  Checkout what she has to say to her fans!

http://bit.ly/9YEkZ1

 

Seimone_twitter_logo

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

Adversity makes Seimone's family even closer

From The Times-Picayune's Rachel Whitaker:

The relationship between Seimone and Seymore Augustus encompasses more than just that of a father and daughter.

They grew stronger through the most adverse of times in the past year, when they both faced illness and injury obstacles.

Seimone Augustus, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx, tore her ACL in a June 2009 WNBA game against the Phoenix Mercury, after a collision with Mercury forward Diana Taurasi.

A devoted daughter who learned to play basketball through rigorous training in her driveway with her father, she received worse news during her knee rehabilitation -- her father had multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease in which the brain and spinal cord in the central nervous system degenerate. There is no cure for the disease.

Early warning signs he suffered were blurred vision, stiff muscles and struggling to walk on his own.

Common symptoms that evolve in multiple sclerosis patients include fatigue, speech and swallowing problems, tremors, muscle spasms and dizziness.

Seimone, 26, said it was crushing to be apart from her father while he was sick and she was rehabbing her knee.

"For the first three months I wasn't able to walk, and the doctor said I couldn't go visit my dad until I wasn't on crutches and didn't have a limp, " she said. "But I knew I had to be stronger, because he was always the strong one in our family."

It was difficult for Seymore Augustus to come to grips with the realization that he would have to stop working and rely on his family for care.

He said he had to go to therapy to learn to walk again.

"I have lesions on my brain; it's rough stuff, " he said. "With (multiple sclerosis), you have good days where you can feel healthy, and the next day you'll be in a lot of pain. I wouldn't wish it on anybody."

He said his wife, Kim, was the rock he and Seimone needed when they were at their weakest points.

"Without my wife, neither of us would have made it, " he said. "At times I couldn't even pick up toilet paper. (Seimone and I) both got depressed because we were used to working all our life."

Kim Augustus said one way the family bonded was becoming educated on multiple sclerosis.

She said Seymore is in the "relapsing-remitting" stage of the disease, meaning he suffers unpredictable attacks, or "exacerbations, " of symptoms for periods ranging from a few days to weeks, followed by recovery of some functions. Recovery can take weeks or even months.

"None of us knew what he was going to go through in the months and years to come, so we spend a lot of time sitting and talking about the literature we read, " Kim Augustus said. "We found out in the last couple of months that taking Vitamin D helps along with his medication."

Seymore said when Seimone is away playing in the WNBA or overseas, they often use Skype to communicate, fostering the relationship they developed when Seimone was young.

Seimone said her father was the first basketball coach she ever had. She played volleyball, soccer and T-ball as a child, but she fell in love with basketball, and her father committed her to excel on the court.

Read the rest of the article: http://bit.ly/dhSAkg

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