Women's basketball: Hightower in good company with the Connecticut Sun

4/12/10 2:46 PM

Being a rookie in a professional league out of college is never an easy endeavor, but former LSU guard Allison Hightower will make the transition with some of the best college players from the past season. Hightower was drafted 15th by the Connecticut Sun in Thursday’s WNBA draft and will be joined by Naismith Trophy winner Tina Charles, former Nebraska forward Kelsey Griffin and Kansas’ Danielle McCray, all drafted in the first round by the Sun. The Sun racked up in the draft, also nabbing Johannah Leedham out of Franklin Pierce in the third round. Hightower slipped a good bit in the draft. Most considered her a first-round pick, but she fell to the third pick in the second round. LSU coach Van Chancellor has always said the former Lady Tiger will make a great pro....

Women’s Basketball: Duke awaits Lady Tigers after dominating first round

3/21/10 2:35 PM

LSU put it to Hartford in convincing fashion, 60-39, in its first round game Saturday morning. The Lady Tigers’ greatest attribute — its stifling defense — was at it again, holding their 10th opponent under 40 points this season. “Their defense is great,” said Hartford coach Jennifer Rizzotti. “We’ve always preached that defense can take you as far as you want it to, and I do think that that’s the case with them.” LSU’s defense frustrated Rizzotti so much she was ejected with 7:27 left in the game after receiving her second technical foul. The key to the Lady Tigers’ win was the adjustment on Hartford’s Diana Delva. Delva was doubled or sometimes even triple teamed, and Delva was only allowed two shots in the...

Women’s basketball: Chancellor, Rizzotti reunite in NCAA tourney

3/18/10 8:14 PM

Hartford women’s basketball coach Jennifer Rizzotti’s history with LSU women’s basketball coach Van Chancellor goes back further than their teams’ upcoming NCAA tournament matchup Saturday morning. Rizzotti played point guard for the Houston Comets for two seasons, including in 2000 when Chancellor was head coach and the Comets won the WNBA championship. Just 12 days later, Rizzotti got the job as coach at Hartford, becoming the youngest coach in Division I women’s basketball at the time. Rizzotti has since won the America East Coach of the Year award twice and led the Hawks to six straight 20-win seasons. Chancellor said he knew Rizzotti would cement herself as a successful collegiate coach as early as her playing days. Chancellor specifically mentioned...

Men’s Basketball: Dismal season ends in disappointment

3/11/10 10:56 PM

With the final buzzer sounding on LSU’s season after a 59-49 loss to Tennessee, the final results bring up one question: What was the worst part of this season — LSU’s performance or Tasmin Mitchell not reaching the 2000 point mark? The Tigers began the season winning eight of their first 10 games, but it was only a matter of time before LSU would feel the absence of its former Tigers Marcus Thornton, Quinton Thornton, Garrett Temple, Terry Martin and Chris Johnson. LSU lost 15 of the next 16 games, including 12 straight. The Tigers’ 11-20 overall record was good enough for last in the Southeastern Conference. The season was a far cry from the 2008-09 season when LSU won the SEC regular season championship. Mitchell began the season outside the top 10 on...

Women’s basketball: Lady Tigers lean on Hightower in preparations for NCAA tournament

3/11/10 8:04 AM

The LSU Lady Tigers are far from satisfied with their play as they await the announcement of their NCAA tournament fate Monday night. The team will scrimmage Friday to keep the players “in game shape” as junior guard Katherine Graham put it after practice yesterday. Coach Van Chancellor said it is important to find the root of the problem that has hindered LSU from closing out victories, which he has talked about all season long. “Losing these close games has driven me nuts,” Chancellor said Wednesday. “I don’t have an answer to that. I’ve tried everything.” The player for the Lady Tigers who knows how it feels to get to the top is senior guard Allison Hightower. She’s been to two Final Fours as a...