LaTech vs. LSU: Louisiana’s remaining unbeaten teams go head-to-head tonight

at

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009
Ruston, La.
7:00 p.m. CT

Audio: KXKZ 107.5 FM (Ruston), KBYO 92.7 FM (Monroe/West Monroe), via subscription at www.latechsports.com
The Lady Techsters (3-0) and Lady Tigers(5-0) meet for the 25th time with LA Tech leading the series 14-10. LSU has won four straight.

The powerhouses of women’s basketball in the state of Louisiana for the past three decades meet tonight when Louisiana Tech hosts Louisiana State at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston. They are the state’s only unbeaten Division I women’s basketball teams.

"For so many years, Louisiana Tech dominated the state of Louisiana," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "LSU has done a good job of stepping up their program and in essence dominating the state the last six or seven years. It’s a big game for us. We need to execute our game plan and do what we do best and see what happens."

Weatherspoon is basketball legend on the college and professional level. The Lady Techster graduate’s accolades include:

• 2-time Kodak All-American
• 1988 Wade Trophy Winner
• 1988 NCAA National Champion
• 2-time Olympian
• 4-time WNBA All-Star
• 2-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
• 2010 Inductee in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame

She led the Lady Techsters to a mark of 118-14 during her career and two national championship game appearances in 1987 and 1988, earning spots on the All-Final Four teams both years. She was instrumental in leading Tech to a remarkable second half comeback against Auburn to claim the 1988 National Championship title.

Weatherspoon’s No. 11 jersey is retired at LA Tech. She was named to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Team of the Decade for the 1980’s. A member of the 1,000-point club (1,087) at LaTech, she still ranks No. 1 in career assists (958) and career steals (411).

LSU head coach Van Chancellor is no stranger to Weatherspoon having coached against her in the WNBA when she was a starting point guard for the New York Liberty.

“This is their Super Bowl game of the year and we have to be ready to play for their best shot,” Chancellor said. “This is a really good basketball team that Louisiana Tech has. Teresa has done a fantastic job. Their team has really adopted her personality.”

“I coached against her as player when she was in college and in the pros. She has done a great job and instilled in them a winning attitude. We know they will come out and play with great passion and intensity. We just have to be ready for it.”

Louisiana Tech (3-0) was projected to finish second in the Western Athletic Conference standings prior to the season. The Lady Techsters have outscored their three opponents a combined 249-150.

LSU (5-0) is off to its best start since 2006 and the Lady Tigers are aiming for a 6-0 mark for the first time since they won the first 14 games of the 2005 season. LSU pushed its in-state winning streak to 30 games last Wednesday after holding on to a 73-65 victory in overtime at Tulane.

The LSU-Louisiana Tech rivalry began in 1976. Though the Lady Techsters lead the series, 12-10, LSU has won the last four meetings between the two, including a 51-41 in Baton Rouge last season. The Lady Tigers are 2-6 in games played in Ruston, but LSU has won its last two games in Thomas Assembly Center. LSU defeated Louisiana Tech, 76-45, in its last meeting in Ruston in 2007.