BATON ROUGE – The LSU women’s basketball team tips off the 2019-20 season at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Tuesday, November 5 at 6:30 p.m. against New Orleans.
Ninth-year head coach Nikki Fargas has four starters and nine letterwinners returning to the squad in 2019-20 who will be joined by six newcomers. LSU recorded the top scoring defense in the SEC last season at 56.2 points per game.
“When you think about LSU, you are going to think about a team that is tough and hard to beat when you come into the PMAC,” said Fargas at her preseason media session last Wednesday. “This season you will see a running team with some of the new pieces to the puzzle we have added in the off-season.”
Redshirt senior Ayana Mitchell is the top returner on the squad after averaging a double-double last season with 13.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. The Conyers, Georgia native is currently one of the Top 20 players in the nation on the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award Watch List and has been named to the SEC media and coaches’ preseason all-conference first teams.
Mitchell is expected to be joined in the starting lineup by redshirt junior center Faustine Aifuwa and junior point guard Khayla Pointer. Senior Jaelyn Richard-Harris and junior Jailin Cherry also saw key starts in 2018-19.
With the departure of Shanice Norton to graduation, Fargas will look to 2019 Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year Tiara Young to step into a key guard position. Young, along with All-Louisiana first teamer Domonique Davis made up the No. 20 recruiting class in the country last season.
Also expected to make an immediate impact is junior college transfer Awa Trasi. After a successful two-year career at Northwest Florida State College, Trasi spent the summer with the French U20 national team preparing for and playing in the FIBA U20 European Championship.
New Orleans returns three starters and 10 letterwinners from the 2018-19 squad. Privateers head coach Keeshawn Davenport, in her ninth season leading her alma mater, saw her team finish seventh in the Southland Conference with a 12-16 overall record and 8-10 in conference action.
Junior Jada Duncantell and sophomore Traya Bruce are the top returners for UNO. Duncantell scored 7.5 points per game and led the team with 65 assists and 51 steals. Bruce averaged 7.1 points per game and dished out 58 assists last season.
Broadcast Details
Patrick Wright will call the game on the LSU Radio Network Friday night. Wright is in his 30th season as the “Voice of the Lady Tigers”. Fans can listen on 107.3 FM and audio broadcasts are available online at LSUSports.net/live.
Lyn Rollins and Victor Howell have the call on the SEC Network Plus. Fans can watch from LSUsports.net or download and log in to the ESPN app to follow along with their favorite live-streaming subscription.
Up Next
LSU host No. 12 Florida State on Saturday, November 9 at 1 p.m. at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. In honor of Veterans Day, free admission will be available for military personnel and first responders.
LSU will host a total of 14 games in the PMAC during the 2019-20 season. Fans can purchase season tickets at LSUtix.net. There are also two mini-plans available for purchase Half-Season Pick’em Plan and The SEC Pack.
Geaux Clear at the PMAC
Fans are reminded that the Geaux Clear Policy will be in effect for all LSU women’s basketball home games. Diaper bags must be clear and no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″. Backpacks, including drawstring/synch bags are strictly prohibited.
Fans with medically-necessary items will be allowed to enter the PMAC following a more thorough search at the designated inspection points. The lower level inspection will take place at the southeast corner entrance near the elevator and upper level inspection is available at the South concourse near the Ticket Office.
For other updates, information is available on LSUSports.net.
Follow Along on Social Media
Follow updates on LSU women’s basketball on Twitter and Instagram at @LSUwbkb or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lsuwbkb. Live stats will be available at LSUsports.net.