BATON ROUGE – The LSU women’s basketball team embarks on the 2014-15 season with five games over an eight-day stretch at the Maravich Center. The Lady Tigers square off with Arkansas-Little Rock and Sam Houston State for opening weekend.
Friday’s tip time versus UALR is slated for 11:32 a.m. followed by a 3:30 p.m. tipoff on Saturday for the Sam Houston State contest. Both games will be carried online only by SEC Network Plus via www.WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. Lyn Rollins and Victor Howell will serve as the announcing team.
The LSU Sports Radio Network will broadcast the game on its flagship station Talk 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge. The broadcast featuring Patrick Wright, the voice of the Lady Tigers, also will be available for Geaux Zone subscribers at www.LSUsports.net/live.
Even though class is in session on campus Friday, normal reserved lots will be held for permit holders. Public parking is suggested in Lots 102 and 107 due the amount of students in other public parking areas. A parking map can be located at www.LSUsports.net/parking.
Due to the men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader on Saturday, LSU will allow women’s parking permits into their reserved lots all day even during the men’s game. LSU parking will release the lots held for the men’s games that aren’t held for the women’s contests at `15 minutes after tipoff of the men’s game. Those include a large portion of Lot 101 in addition to Lots 104 and 105.
Tickets for both games are on-sale at www.LSUtix.net and can be purchased at the Maravich Center Box Office starting as low as $2 for general admission tickets on gameday. The Maravich Center Box Office opens at 10 a.m. on Friday and at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday due to the men’s game.
LSU secured exhibition wins over Loyola and Mississippi College last week where the Lady Tigers amassed 94.5 points per game. As a team, LSU connected on 65-for-122 from the floor and drained 11 of its 19 three-point attempts. The Lady Tigers also knocked down 48-of-73 at the free throw line.
“I like the mobility of our team,” head coach Nikki Caldwell said. “I like the versatility that our bigs present. I like the fact that we’re able to do a lot of different things in our defensive scheme – 94 feet from the basket, we’re going to be able to press more, we’re going to be able to trap more because we’re going to have quickness out of the rotation.”
“Our backline defense is going to be stronger because we’ve got players that can guard the ball one-on-one,” Caldwell continued. “Obviously as a coach if you had more time, I would definitely want to have more time in teaching and moving us and progressing us with not only our offensive execution but really just stay with the skill development working our passing. This group has shown in a short period of time that they are able to execute, and they are able to get after people defensively.”
LSU had four players average in double figures headed by Jenna Deemer‘s 20.0 points per game. She buried seven of her 12 field goals from three-point territory and chipped in 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists per game. DaShawn Harden turned in a solid all-around effort of 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game.
On the interior, Akilah Bethel compiled a balanced 11.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game. She was joined by Stephanie Amichia‘s 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game along with Ann Jones‘ 5.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. Alliyah Fareo notched 4.0 points, 3,0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
The Lady Tigers received valuable backcourt contributions from Raigyne Moncrief and Anne Pedersen, who each tallied 8.5 points and 5.0 assists per game. Moncrief also added 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game, while Pedersen picked up 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
Rina Hill, who served as LSU’s starting point during the two exhibition games, came away with 9.5 points to go along with 3.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. Off the bench, Jasmine Rhodes collected 13 points against Mississippi College.
“I think for Anne her success is the fact that she can put the ball in the hole,” Caldwell said. “Catching-and-shooting is your number one move and then you have your counters. That’s a great move for her is the catch-and-shoot. She’s also smart so there will be times when there’s bad close outs, and she’ll go to her one dribble pull up.”
“I think there’s a lot that Anne brings to our team with her international background, and it’s a lot of things that she brings to our team too that are off the court,” Caldwell continued. “Her just being humble and grateful and an extremely great student. She is someone who appreciates the opportunities that LSU has afforded her. She’s a really special person, and I’m a huge fan of Anne Pedersen‘s. She’s been someone who has accepted the roles that have been placed on her whether it was not playing a lot last year to now starting for us. Her leadership has really blossomed, and we’re just really excited to see how she progresses.”
Season tickets are on sale for $75 online at http://www.LSUtix.net/. The LSU Athletics Ticket Office can be reached at (800) 960-8587 or (225) 578-2184 and is located on the first floor of the Moran Family Center for Athletics Administration Building. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
For all of the latest news and information on Lady Tiger basketball, visit www.LSUsports.net/womensbasketball. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/LSUwbkb, @lsuwbkb and @NikkiCaldwell on Twitter, @LSUwbkb and @LSUNikkiCaldwell on Instagram.