CLEVELAND, Ohio — LSU’s women’s basketball team’s first full day at the 2007 NCAA Final Four was a busy one that began with an ESPN interviews and ended with the Salute Dinner.
Friday got underway for the Fresno Regional Champions at Quicken Loans Arena with the five Lady Tigers’ starters ? Sylvia Fowles, Erica White, Ashley Thomas, Quianna Chaney and RaShonta LeBlanc ? and acting head coach Bob Starkey meeting with ESPN’s talent that will broadcast Sunday night’s national semifinal game against Rutgers.
During the question and answer session, the players and Starkey were asked questions both on and off camera in preparation for ESPN’s production of the game.
The television network then had Chaney, Fowles and Starkey pose in front of the camera and a green screen in tease shots for the opening of the telecast on Sunday night.
The Lady Tigers battle Rutgers at 6 p.m. CDT on Sunday in Quicken Loans Arena.
LSU then held a closed practice at the Cleveland Cavaliers practice facility before ending the day at the annual Salute dinner held at the Renaissance Hotel.
During the dinner, Starkey and White were interviewed on stage by television and radio talents Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli in a round table discussion that included Tennessee’s head coach Pat Summitt and senior forward Sydney Spencer, North Carolina’s head coach Sylvia Hatchell and junior forward Erlana Larkins, and Rutgers’ head coach C. Vivian Stringer and junior guard Essence Carson.
Another full day of festivities awaits the Lady Tigers on Saturday. LSU, along with the other three teams, will hold practice and an autograph session at Quicken Loans Arena that is open to the public.
All four teams will also meet the media for the first official time in Cleveland on Saturday with press conferences throughout the afternoon.