BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – LSU junior guard Danielle Ballard garnered All-SEC First Team and All-SEC Defensive Team accolades as announced Tuesday by the SEC office which were voted upon by the league coaches.
For Ballard, she becomes the 22nd player in program history to pick up All-SEC First-Team honors. The Lady Tigers have had at least one player earn an All-SEC First-Team selection in 12 straight seasons.
Ballard has racked up 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.9 assists per game. She is the only player to be ranked among the SEC’s Top 10 in four of the five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks). Her 3.1 steals per game hold the top spot on the SEC leaderboard.
Ballard has racked up double figures in 12 consecutive games to conclude the regular season. She began the streak with a 24-point performance during LSU’s double overtime victory at then No. 15 Mississippi State. The Lady Tigers were the only team to defeat MSU on its home floor. Then, Ballard equaled a career-high 25 points as LSU toppled then No. 10 Kentucky. For her efforts, she tucked away ESPNW, USBWA and SEC Player of the Week honors.
Ballard was the 28th player to eclipse 500 career rebounds and enters the SEC Tournament 70 points shy of reaching 1,000 career points. She is looking to be the 19th member of LSU’s 1,000 points and 500 rebounds club.
LSU has secured the No. 4 seed and a double bye for this week’s SEC Tournament. The Lady Tigers will meet either No. 18 Texas A&M, Florida or Auburn in Friday’s quarterfinal round. Tip time is set for approximately 2:30 p.m. from Verizon Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas. The game will be televised by the SEC Network and also will be available online at www.WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app.
The LSU Sports Radio Network will carry the game on its flagship station Talk 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge. The radio broadcast featuring Patrick Wright, the voice of the Lady Tigers, also will be available for Geaux Zone subscribers at www.LSUsports.net/live.
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.
2014-15 SEC Women’s Basketball Awards
All-SEC First Team
Danielle Ballard, LSU
Cierra Burdick, Tennessee
Makayla Epps, Kentucky
Tia Faleru, Ole Miss
Isabelle Harrison, Tennessee
Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina
Courtney Walker, Texas A&M
Aleighsa Welch, South Carolina
A’ja Wilson, South Carolina
All-SEC Second Team
Martha Alwal, Mississippi State
Alaina Coates, South Carolina
Jordan Frericks, Missouri
Jessica Jackson, Arkansas
Jordan Jones, Texas A&M
Jennifer O’Neill, Kentucky
Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
Courtney Williams, Texas A&M
All-SEC Freshman Team
Rebekah Dahlman, Vanderbilt
Mackenzie Engram, Georgia
A’Queen Hayes, Ole Miss
Alexis Jennings, Kentucky
Haley Lorenzen, Florida
Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
Morgan Williams, Mississippi State
A’ja Wilson, South Carolina
All-SEC Defensive Team
Martha Alwal, Mississippi State
Danielle Ballard, LSU
Alaina Coates, South Carolina
Linnae Harper, Kentucky
Jordan Jones, Texas A&M
SEC Specialty Awards
SEC Co-Coaches of the Year: Vic Schaefer, Mississippi State/Dawn Staley, South Carolina
SEC Player of the Year: Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina
SEC Freshman of the Year: A’ja Wilson, South Carolina
SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Jordan Jones, Texas A&M
SEC Sixth Woman of the Year: Jennifer O’Neill, Kentucky
SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Aleighsa Welch, South Carolina