LSU Gold

Home of LSU Women's Basketball Pete Maravich Assembly Center

History

Capacity: 13,215

Over the last 17 seasons, the LSU women’s basketball team has established the Pete Maravich Assembly Center as one of the toughest road playing sites in not only the Southeastern Conference but the nation.

Since the 1996-97 season, the Lady Tigers have posted a remarkable home record of 240-41 (.854), an average of 14 victories per year.

Dating back to the 2002-03 season when LSU appeared in the NCAA Elite 8 followed by five consecutive NCAA Final Fours, LSU is an impressive 156-31 (.834) inside the friendly confines of the Maravich Center.

LSU has proven to be tough to beat in SEC play in the venue. In conference games, the Lady Tigers are 98-26 (.790) at home over the past 17 years and an astounding 70-19 (.787) over the past 12 seasons.

LSU has secured a 48-21 mark at home versus Top 25 foes over the last 17 years. The Lady Tigers have knocked off a Top 10 opponent (#8 Penn State • 03/26/13 and #7 West Virginia • 03/25/14) during each of the last two seasons to punch their ticket to the NCAA Sweet 16 which enables the PMAC to back up its claim as one of the nation’s most-feared road sites.

In Nikki Caldwell’s first season as head coach in 2011-12, LSU increased attendance by over 1,000 more fans than the previous season. Caldwell guided the Lady Tigers to their best home record since the 2008 Final Four season with a 13-4 mark sparked by a flawless 4-0 record against ranked teams during the regular season.

Caldwell’s squad followed that up with a 15-3 record in 2012-13 and a 12-4 mark during the 2013-14 season. In three seasons, Caldwell has fueled the Lady Tigers to a 40-11 (.784) mark inside the Maravich Center.

In addition to their success on the court, the Lady Tigers have also played before record crowds.

Over the past 12 seasons, LSU has established 14 of the top 15 crowds in PMAC history, including a record crowd of 15,233 against Tennessee on Feb. 10, 2005. During that span the Lady Tigers have played in front of 10 home crowds of over 10,000 fans.

LSU finished the 2005-06 season ranked 14th in the nation in average home attendance with 6,273 and played in front of five crowds of at least 8,000 people.

In 2004-05, LSU finished 10th in the nation in average home attendance with 7,317 fans per game, by far a record for the Lady Tigers. During that season four crowds of over 10,000 were recorded for games, including the record crowd of 15,233 against Tennessee. LSU ranked third in the SEC and among the top 15 in attendance nationally in 2011-12, averaging 4,315 fans per game and 73,348 total.

LSU rarely gets upset on its home floor. The Lady Tigers are 184-17 (.915) over the last 17 years against unranked teams.

LSU has put together undefeated records at home over non-ranked opponents in 2007-08 (11-0), 2006-07 (11-0), 2005-06 (10-0), 2004-05 (10-0), 2002-03 (8-0), 2001-02 (11-0), 1999-00 (17-0), 1998-99 (11-0) and 1996-97 (11-0).

During the 1999-2000 campaign, the Lady Tigers set a school-record with 17 home victories with their only loss coming at the hands of second-ranked Tennessee.

In 39 years of history at the PMAC, LSU’s home court advantage can be compared with the best programs from across the country as the Lady Tigers have close to 80 percent of their homes games with a 430-115 overall mark. LSU claimed its 400th all-time Maravich Center victory in Caldwell’s first season with a 53-49 victory over Mississippi State on Feb. 9, 2012. LSU has also put together winning streaks of 43, 26, 24 and 22 games at home. The Lady Tigers also have gone undefeated at home four times: 15-0 in 2005-06, 12-0 in 2004-05, and 14-0 in both 1977-78 and 1985-86.

Built in 1971, the PMAC underwent completed renovations prior to the 2005-06 season that included an updated concourse with new concessions, new seats and a new sound system. The concourse features interactive kiosks and displays recognizing the history of LSU basketball, including one exhibit of the late Hall of Fame head coach Sue Gunter. It also houses the plaques of all members of the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame. The capacity is 13,215 following the renovations.

During the summer of 1988, Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer signed legislation changing the official name of the building to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in honor of the LSU star who had died tragically earlier that same year.

In addition to the normal basketball-seating configuration, a proscenium stage can be lowered into place at the north end allowing some 4,000 seats for theatrical productions. An additional 1,000 seats can be placed on the floor for graduations, convocations, lectures, concerts or other special events.

The Maravich Center has played host to several famous musical artists over the years, including KISS, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Def Leppard, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Garth Brooks and Jimmy Buffett.

Also located in the building is an auxiliary practice gym used for basketball and volleyball practices; home and visitor dressing rooms; coaches dressing rooms, building administration offices; theater dressing rooms; Tiger Athletic Foundation offices; and the “L” Club meeting room with kitchen facilities.

In the summer of 2010, LSU’s state-of-the-art basketball practice facility was officially completed and is connected to the PMAC through the Northwest portal. The facility gives both men’s and women’s teams ample practice room adjacent to their actual game playing floor of the Maravich Center.

The Maravich Center has been the site for both men’s and women’s NCAA Regional Tournaments, the 1981 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, the 1988 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament and two SEC Volleyball Tournaments. Since the current NCAA Tournament format began, LSU has played host to the NCAA women’s first and second rounds six times since 2004, doing so in 2004, ’08, ’09, ‘12, ‘13 and most recently in 2014. LSU owns a 18-3 record in NCAA Tournament games played in the Maravich Center, including a 8-0 mark in first round contests.

Arena Facts

11.5 Million
Original cost of building — $11.5 million; one of the most visible structures on campus.

East to West
East-to-West, you can put a football field and still have almost 33 yards of space left.

North to South
North-to-South, you can put another gridiron and have about 13 yards extra.

3,113,380
There are over one-fifth of a million square feet enclosed and over one-quarter of a million square feet throughout for a total of 3,113,380 cubic feet.

1,750
A total of 1,750 tons of air conditioning keeps the interior at year-round comfort.

Practice Facility

PRACTICE FACILITY FACTS

Project Cost: $13,913,000

Ground Breaking: July 1, 2008

Facility Opening: Sept. 23, 2010 (Ribbon-cutting ceremony)

Total Project Area: 58,960 square feet of new construction and 1,100 square feet of renovated construction

Contractors: Guy Hopkins Construction of Baton Rouge based on the designs by the firm of Tom Holden Architects of Baton Rouge in a joint venture with RDG Sports of Des Moines, Iowa

  • Two state-of-the-art practice gyms each spanning 11,324 square feet; includes a regulation NCAA court in length with two regulation high school courts in the opposite direction.
  • Each gym has two portable goals and four overhead retractable goals; both are exact replicas of the PMAC competition court.
  • Each gym can hold up to 800 people for special events.
  • Each gym features a scoreboard, video filming balcony and scorer’s table with video and data connections to enable instant replay.
  • A central two story lobby and grand staircase ascends to the second level. The lobby showcases team displays and graphics, trophy cases and memorabilia from the past. The displays and wall graphics were designed by ZE Design of Centerville, Ohio.
  • On the second level of the facility is the Legends Club that opens to an extension of the Maravich Center concourse. It can hold approximately 500 people for pre-game and post-game functions.
  • Other areas of the addition include a Media Room, Men’s Basketball Locker Room, Team Lounge, Training Room, Laundry Facility, Coach’s Locker Room and storage areas.

Year-by-Year Home Game Records

LSU Women’s Basketball home games since 1975-76

Year
Games
Record
SEC
Non-SEC
1975-76
9 *
4-5
4-5
1976-77
11 **
10-1
10-1
1977-78
14
14-0
14-0
1978-79
7
5-2
5-2
1979-80
15
10-5
10-5
1980-81
13
8-5
8-5
1981-82
10
6-4
6-4
1982-83
14
12-2
4-0
8-2
1983-84
11
10-1
3-1
7-1
1984-85
10
8-2
2-2
6-0
1985-86
14
14-0
4-0
10-0
1986-87
14
10-4
3-2
7-2
1987-88
14
11-3
4-0
7-3
1988-89
13
10-3
3-2
7-1
1989-90
13
11-2
3-1
8-1
1990-91
11
9-2
3-2
6-0
1991-92
14
10-4
3-2
7-2
1992-93
13
6-7
0-6
6-1
1993-94
10
5-5
1-3
4-2
1994-95
14
5-9
0-6
5-3
1995-96
14
10-4
1-4
9-0
1996-97
15
14-1
5-1
9-0
1997-98
15
14-1
6-1
7-0
1998-99
16
15-1
6-1
9-0
1999-00
18
17-1
6-1
11-0
2000-01
14
11-3
4-3
7-0
2001-02
16
13-3
6-1
7-2
2002-03
15
14-1
6-1
8-0
2003-04
17
16-1
6-1
10-0
2004-05
12
12-0
7-0
5-0
2005-06 15 15-0 7-0 8-0
2006-07 15 13-2 6-1 7-1
2007-08 15 14-1 7-0 7-1
2008-09 18 11-7 5-2 6-5
2009-10 16 12-4 4-4 8-0
2010-11 14 10-4 6-2 4-2
2011-12 17 13-4 6-2 7-2
2012-13 18 15-3 6-2 9-1
2013-14 16 12-4 4-4 8-0
2014-15 15 11-4 7-1 4-3
2015-16 13 6-7 2-6 4-1
2016-17 16 13-3 6-2 7-1
2017-18 12 11-1 7-1 4-0
2018-19 17 11-6 4-4 7-2
2019-20 14 12-2 7-1 5-1
2020-21 10 4-6 3-5 1-1
2021-22 18 15-3 7-1 8-2
2022-23
TOTALS
655
512-143
180-79
332-64

* includes 2 games played at local high school gyms (both losses)
** includes 1 game played at local high school gym (a win)

Attendance Records

Season Games Attendance Average
1980-81 13 14,900 1,146
1981-82 10 14,085 1,409
1982-83 14 12,300 879
1983-84 11 12,787 1,162
1984-85 10 8,300 830
1985-86 14 5,174 370
1986-87 14 6,891 492
1987-88 14 6,578 470
1988-89 13 7,519 578
1989-90 13 5,324 410
1990-91 11 9,477 862
1991-92 14 6,866 490
1992-93 13 6,807 524
1993-94 10 5,732 573
1994-95 14 12,218 873
1995-96 14 8,642 617
1996-97 15 31,259 2,084
1997-98 15 19,151 1,277
1998-99 16 26,118 1,632
1999-2000 18 23,573 1,310
2000-01 14 20,916 1,494
2001-02 16 21,770 1,361
2002-03 15 66,852 4,457
2003-04 17 59,689 3,511
2004-05 12 87,806 7,317
2005-06 15 94,090 6,273
2006-07 15 83,593 5,573
2007-08 15 80,512 5,367
2008-09 18 73,069 4,059
2009-10 16 54,133 3,383
2010-11 14 46,047 3,289
2011-12 17 73,348 4,315
2012-13 18 69,438 3,858
2013-14 16 48,854 3,053
2014-15 15 42,592 2,839
2015-16 13 37,152 2,858
2016-17 16 36,757 2,297
2017-18 12 27,101 2,258
2018-19 17 36,872 2,169
2019-20 14 28,505 2,036
2020-21 10 7,619 762
2021-22 18 129,008 7,167
2022-23
Totals (1980-2022) 599 1,469,424 2,453

Top 15 Home Crowds

Through 2021-22 season

Rank Attendance Opponent Date Result
1 15,233 Tennessee 2/10/2005 #1 LSU 68, #5 Tennessee 58
2 15,217 Tennessee 2/23/2003 #3 Tennessee 68, #4 LSU 65,
3 14,256 Auburn 1/30/2005 #2 LSU 57, Auburn 52
4 13,620 Florida 2/20/2022 #11 LSU 66, #17 Florida 61
5 13,468 Arkansas 2/19/2006 #2 LSU 64, Arkansas 42
6 11,252 Penn State * 1/4/2003 #2 LSU 80, #15 Penn State 63
7 10,841 Vanderbilt 1/13/2008 #11 LSU 62, Vanderbilt 51
8 10,677 Ohio State 12/10/2006 #9 LSU 75, #5 Ohio State 51
9 10,624 Georgia * 1/8/2005 #1 LSU 76, #17 Georgia 52
10 10,185 Florida 2/27/2005 #1 LSU 76, Florida 52
11 10,074 Mississippi State 2/26/2006 #3 LSU 62, Mississippi State 48
12 9,930 Minnesota * 1/7/2006 #3 LSU 66, #15 Minnesota 45
13 9,763 Connecticut 2/25/2008 #1 Connecticut 74, #6 LSU 69
14 9,636 Auburn * 2/4/2001 Auburn 65, #10 LSU 62
15 9,511 Baylor 1/30/2006 #4 LSU 88, #10 Baylor 57

* “Pack the PMAC” game

Statistical Records

Individual Maravich Center Records (through 2012-13)

Points
LSU: 49 by Cornelia Gayden vs. Jackson State, Feb. 9, 1995
Opp: 46 by Deborah Temple (Delta State), Jan. 18, 1983

Rebounds
LSU: 25 by Maree Jackson vs. Louisiana Tech, Feb. 1, 1977 and vs. Northeast La., Feb. 18, 1977
Opp: 23 by Pam Kelly (Louisiana Tech), March 7, 1980

Field Goals Made
LSU: 19 by Maree Jackson vs. Northwestern St., Feb. 24, 1978
Opp: 19 by Deborah Temple (Delta State), Jan. 18, 1983

Field Goals Attempted
LSU: 34 by Julie Gross vs. Alabama, Nov. 28, 1978
Opp: 31 by Sheila Ethridge (Louisiana Tech), March 8, 1980; by Deborah Temple (Delta State), Jan. 18, 1983

3-Point Field Goals Made
LSU: 12 by Cornelia Gayden vs. Jackson State, Feb. 9, 1995
Opp: 7 by Sheila Ethridge (Louisiana Tech), Dec. 8, 1990

3-Point Field Goals Attempted
LSU: 17 by Cornelia Gayden vs. Georgia, Feb. 20, 1993
Opp: 17 by Sheila Ethridge (Louisiana Tech), Dec. 8, 1990

Free Throws Made
LSU: 18 by Pokey Chatman vs. Georgia, Feb. 10, 1991
Opp: 15 by Lisa McMahon (Lamar), Jan. 30, 1995

Free Throws Attempted
LSU: 21 by Pokey Chatman vs. Georgia, Feb. 10, 1991
Opp: 21 by Lisa Powell (Alcorn State), Dec. 14, 1987

Assists
LSU: 15 by Temeka Johnson vs. Ark., Feb. 12, 2004 and vs. Fla., Feb. 27, 2005
Opp: 12 by Jennifer White (Louisiana Tech), Jan. 14, 1979

Steals
LSU: 10 by Cornelia Gayden vs. USL, Feb. 7, 1995
Opp: 7 by Aline Guidry (McNeese State), Jan. 30, 1980; 7 by Frederica Wills (USL), Feb. 2, 1994

Blocked Shots
LSU: 8 by Dee Dee Franklin vs. Kentucky, Feb. 14, 1989
Opp: 6 by Carolyn Thompson (Texas Tech), Jan. 2, 1981

Team Maravich Center Records

Points
LSU: 118 vs. Northwestern State, Feb. 19, 1986
Opp: 108 by Georgia, Feb. 10, 1991

Rebounds
LSU: 70 vs. Southern, Dec. 6, 1982; 70 vs. USL, Jan. 27, 1977
Opp: 59 by Tennessee, Jan. 7, 1993; 59 by Alcorn State, Dec. 14, 1987

Field Goals Made
LSU: 46 vs. Northwestern State, Feb. 19, 1986
Opp: 42 by Texas, March 8, 1980

Field Goals Attempted
LSU: 95 vs. Alabama, Nov. 18, 1978
Opp: 95 by Northwestern State, Feb. 14, 1978

3-Point Field Goals Made
LSU: 12 vs. Jackson State, Feb. 9, 1995
Opp: 12 by South Carolina, Jan. 15, 1994

3-Point Field Goals Attempted
LSU:  25 vs. Southeastern La., Dec. 22, 2009
Opp:  32 by Ole Miss, Feb. 7, 2010 (3OT)

Free Throws Made
LSU: 34 vs. McNeese State, Dec. 21, 2012
Opp: 28 by Maine, March 15, 1997; 28 by Lamar, Jan. 30, 1995; 28 by New Orleans, Feb. 7, 1984; 28 by Tennessee, Jan. 24, 1977

Free Throws Attempted
LSU: 50 vs. USL, Feb. 5, 1996
Opp: 41 by Alcorn State, Dec. 13, 1987; 41 by Alabama, Nov. 18, 1978

Assists
LSU: 38 vs. UNC Asheville, Nov. 23, 1999
Opp: 25 by Alabama, Jan. 28, 1995; 25 by Tulane, Nov. 27, 1979

Steals
LSU: 25 vs. USL, Nov. 22, 1996
Opp: 23 by Texas, March 8, 1980

Blocked Shots
LSU: 17 vs. Southeastern La., Feb. 12, 1981
Opp: 11 by Texas Tech, Jan. 2, 1981; 11 by Northwestern State, Nov. 17, 1980

Margin of Victory
LSU: 76 vs. Prairie View (104-28), Dec. 1, 1995
Opp: 41 by Louisiana Tech (91-50), March 7, 1980