Merucry waste 23 point outburst by Meek

Temeka Johnson poured in 23 points with 10 of 16 shooting including 3 of 5 from behind the 3-point line but it wasn't enough as Indiana defeated Phoenix 110-90.  Despite losing their 3rd straight, the defending champions locked up a play-off bid due to Minnesota's loss.

Phoneix/Indiana Box: http://bit.ly/9TvLj2

Seimone Augustus had a rough shooting night hitting only 4 of 12 for 8 points and Minnesota fell on the road to Washington 61 to 58.  The loss keeps the Lynx tied for the last play off spot with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Minnesota/Washington Box: http://bit.ly/9C1QVx

Scholanda Robinson lead Tulsa with 14 points but the Shock still fell short to San Antonio losing 94-74.  Roneeka Hodges pitched in 10 points to help the Stars to the victory.

Tulsa/San Antonio Box: http://bit.ly/c7HT5g

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

Marie on ESPN2 with a big night of Lady Tiger action in the WNBA

Connecticut (Allison Hightower) at Washington at 6 PM (NBA TV)

Preview: http://bit.ly/9G5bGS

Phoenix (Temeka Johnson) at Chicago (Sylvia Fowles) at 7 PM

Preview: http://bit.ly/bh3ncr

Minnesota (Seimone Augustus) at San Antonio (Roneeka Hodges) at 7 PM

Preview: http://bit.ly/ajrUl6

Indiana at Los Angeles (Marie Ferdinand-Harris) at 9 PM (ESPN2)

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

Mone leads Lynx to comeback overtime win over Syl and Sky

CHICAGO (AP) Seimone  Augustus scored 27 points, including the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 26.9 seconds left in overtime to lead the Minnesota Lynx to an 87-82 victory over the Chicago Sky on Saturday. Lindsay Whalen had 19 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, Charde Houston added 17 points and Monica Wright added 11 to help the Lynx (9-16) rally from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.  Jia Perkins led Chicago (12-16) with 16 points and Sylvia  Fowles had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Dominique Canty added 13 points and Tamera Young scored 10.   Augustus' jumper with 1 minute left in OT gave the Lynx an 80-79 lead. Fowles made 1 of 2 free throws to tie the score about 20 seconds later. After Augustus' go-ahead 3, Fowles made a layup to pull the Sky to 83-82 with 19.3 seconds to go. Whalen then made two free throws 3 seconds later to put Minnesota up by three again.

  

Minnesota/Chicago Box: http://bit.ly/b9VxF8

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

Mone vs. Syl on ESPN2 today at 2 CST

Today at 2:00 PM EST on ESPN2, Lady Tiger fans can watch two of LSU's great players collide when Seimone Augustus takes her Minnesota Lynx to Chicago to play Sylvia Fowles and the Sky.  It would be hard to find two players in the WNBA that are playing at a higher level than these two in recent weeks.

Minnesota/Chicago Preview via WNBA.com - http://bit.ly/b9VxF8

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

Show LSU Lady Tiger spirit and help WNBA raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness

The WNBA is raising funds for the Jimmy V Cancer Foundation through an internet auction and you can show your LSU spirit while supporting a great cause.

Each WNBA team has a commemorative pink WNBA basketball autographed by their team.  For you LSU fans keeping score this would include Chicago (Sylvia Fowles), Connecticut (Allison Hightower), Los Angeles (Marie Ferdinand-Harris), Minnesota (Seimone Augustus), Phoenix (Temeka Johnson), San Antonio (Roneeka Hodges), and Tulsa (Scholanda Robinson).

There is also individually autographed basketballs including one by Seimone and one by Syl.

Check out all the Breast Cancer Awareness auction items at: http://bit.ly/dlnu51

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

Lady Tigers take to NBA TV tomorrow in WNBA action

Big day of action in the WNBA including a lot of Lady Tigers and a lot of action on NBA TV.

Allison Hightower and Connecticut play in New York at 3:00 CST

Scholanda Robinson and Tulsa play at Washington at 3:00 CST (NBA TV)

Sylvia Fowles and Chicago are in Phoenix to play Temeka Johnson and the Mercury at 5:00 CST (NBA TV)

Seimone Augustus and Minnesota host the WNBA's best Seattle Storm at 6:00 CST (NBA TV).

Nba_tv_logo

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

A great evening with a special post game meal

BOB STARKEY: It was a great evening -- watching Seimone Augustus and Temeka Johnson do what they love so much -- play basketball.

The evening started with 10 great minutes talking to Annie Meyers-Drysdale.  Besides being one of the all-time greats in the history of women's basketball, she is currently the General Manager and soon to be President of the Phoenix Mercury.  She is also a huge LSU Lady Tiger fan because of her relationship with Sue Gunter.  Coach Gunter coached her in the Olympics and Annie has remained a friend of our program since.

The game was fast-paced, via the Phoenix system.  The Mercury's first basket of the game came from a long thread-the-need pass from Meek to Taurasi.  The Lynx answered right back with their first basket coming from a baseline floater from Mone.  One minute into the game and I was having some great flashbacks.

The night would belong to Phoenix. They would set the WNBA record with most points in a half by pouring in 69.  Meek flirted with a triple-double with 8 points, 8 boards and 8 assists in only 18 minutes.  Mone scored 13 points while grabbing 4 boards.

But the best part of the night was post-game.  Going with Meek and Mone to Fez, a local Pheonix eatery.  It was special listening to them talk about the WNBA, different teams and players and hearing all that they know and had learned.  They are professional basketball players -- by the strictest terms.

Of course they wanted to know about the Lady Tigers and how hard they were working this summer and what kind of season might we have coming.  It was great to hear them talk about what they saw in analyzing our team last year and what we needed to grow.

I'm so very proud of these two young women -- not just because they have forged their basketball gift from God -- but because of the people they have grown to be -- caring about each other and their respective communities.

Both have causes very near to their hearts and we will blog about that later but it speaks to who they are and what they become -- it's speaks to the Lady Tiger Way and a tremendous legacy that they have left for our future student-athletes.

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

A bomb-sniffing dog, bull horn instructions and one smokin' HOT city

BOB STARKEY: Sitting in my hotel in Phoenix with a beautiful view of the city as well as the mountains on the outskirts (see photo below).  I had a great day of travel with great flights -- those that know how much I dislike flying know what a great day I had -- though it wasn't without incident.  While sitting during a layover in the Dallas Airport, I felt the something cold on my hand only to turn and see the nose of a german shepherd.  Further review saw he was attached to two security officers.  I simply said, "What's up guys?"  I was then told I was sitting beside a piece of abandoned luggage so they brought in the bomb-sniffing dog. I looked at the mysterious suitcase within three feet of me and asked "Should I not be sitting here then?"  The reply was "Probably."

Then on the flight from Dallas to Phoenix the flight attendant stepped out with a bull horn to give us our saftey instructions explaining that speaker system in the plane was not working.  I then prayed that would be the only mechinical failure today.

I spent part of my layover in Dallas tweeting with Seimone to remind her that we'd be going to dinner after the game tomorrow night.  I actually got to Phoenix before Temeka who played in Seattle last night.  Not sure what kind of mood she'll be in after her team lost a lead and a difficult game last night.

Oh, and one other thing -- IT'S HOT!  About a week ago I ran into a couple of our Fast Break Club members, Mona Ragan and Karen Miller and told them of my planned trip to Arizona and we spoke about the head.  Karen told me not to worry as it would be "a dry heat."  Then she laughed.  I think she knew!

From_hotel_room

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

Road trip to Phoenix to see Meek, Mone and Syl

COACH BOB STARKEY: Leaving out of Baton Rouge tomorrow morning heading to Pheonix, Arizona.  I'm quite sure I won't be complaining about the Louisiana heat when I get back. 

It will be a pilgrimage of sorts for me -- going to watch arguable the three most influential Lady Tigers of all time compete on professional level over the course of four days.

On July 29th and I will watch Temeka Johnson and Phoenix host Seimone Augustus and the Minnesota Lynx.  There's a good chance that the two will rope me out of a free meal.  I'll then stay for a few more days where I will have a chance to be a part of the launch of Temeka's children's book "Decisions, Decisions, Decsicions."  I'll then stay for the August 1 showdown between Meek and Sylvia Fowles' Chicago Sky.  I'm also looking forward to spending time with basketball great and Phoenix General Manager Annie Meyers Drysdale.  Annie is a dear friend introduced to me by Coach Gunter (who coached on the 1976 Olympic Team).  I'm really looking forward to the trip and will be blogging constantly during the trip so stay tuned to "The Lady Tiger Way Blog" (or the Lady Tiger Facebook page or my twitter page) to find out what's up with these Lady Tiger alums. 

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

Lady Tigers all in action today in the WNBA

Big day in the WNBA with all 12 teams playing.  Translation?  All the Lady Tigers in the W will also be in action!

12:30 PM CST: Scholanda Robinson and Tulsa host Atlanta (you can catch this game on NBA TV)

6:00 PM CST: Sylvia Fowles and Chicago tip-off against Indiana

6:30 PM CST: Allison Hightower wlecomes Washington to Connecticut

6:30 PM CST: San Antonio and Roneeka Hodges plays at New York (ESPN2)

7:00 PM CST: Marie Ferdinand-Harris and the LA Sparks travel to Minnesota to play against Seimone Augustus

8:30 PM CST: Temeka Johnson and Pheonix travel to Seattle to play the leagues best (ESPN2)

Wnba_ball

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