MINNIS ON BOTTS
“I’m really impressed with the way that she’s been playing. She really stepped up her game and she improved her fitness 100 percent. She’s been hitting the ball well, hitting it cleanly and has had some tremendous wins so far this year. If she can maintain her focus for the next four months, she can have a great year and the way that she’s been playing, she has a possibility to make the tournament.”
SENIOR SEASON (2001-02)
Finished the year as the 111th-ranked singles player in the nation … Was ranked as high as No. 87 during fall competition … Ended the season with an impressive 21-14 overall record in singles play … Turned in 69 career wins in four years for the Lady Tigers … Named to the Southeastern Conference’s Academic Honor Roll … Finished the season with a 9-8 record at the No. 2 singles position … Led the team with five match-clinching victories … Recorded a 12-2 mark in three-set matches … Knocked off South Carolina’s 51st-ranked Jennifer Radman, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 … Earned her fourth varsity letter.
JUNIOR SEASON (2000-01)
Proved to be the Lady Tigers’ most improved player … Named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll … Finished the season with undefeated 2-0 records at both the No. 2 and No. 5 singles positions … Finished the season with a 19-18 overall mark and a 11-12 record in dual play … Won her final two singles matches of the season down the stretch heading into the NCAA Tournament … Compiled a 1-0 record against doubles opponents ranked in the top 50 along with teammate Lauren Haddix … Recorded an 8-6 singles mark during the fall tournament season … Finished with a 9-6 doubles record in fall competition … Earned her third varsity letter.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (1999-00)
Entered the 2000 NCAA Tournament with a year of tournament experience under her belt, which allowed her to pick up a huge win over Iowa’s Mega Kearney in the opening round of the regional … Named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll by achieving a 3.666 grade point average … Accumulated a 13-26 overall record during the 1999-00 season … Recorded the biggest victory of her career, as she defeated Florida’s Baili Camino while she was the 12th-ranked player in the nation on the road in Gainesville, Fla. … Started in four different singles positions for the Lady Tigers in dual play … Went 1-0 at No. 2, 1-2 at No. 3, 6-13 at No. 4 and 0-3 at No. 5 … Competed at No. 3 doubles with Lauren Haddix and ended with an overall record of 4-5 … As one of four sophomore’s on last year’s team, Botts proved to be an impressive talent who contributed immediately at the No. 4 singles position and court No. 2 in doubles play … Showed that she is a hard-hitting, aggressive player with an extremely dedicated work ethic … Her competitive nature, understanding of the game, and “big game” talent gave her the ability to hang tough in long matches and she has the capability to beat anyone in the conference … During the 2000 fall season, Botts recorded an 8-6 mark in tournament play as well as an undefeated 3-0 doubles record along with partner Mandy Rice … Earned her second varsity letter.
FRESHMAN SEASON (1998-99)
According to Minnis, Botts’ fall play was an learning experience for her, as she competed against some of the nation’s finest players right off the bat … In her first collegiate tournament, the National Clay Court Championships, Botts reached the quarterfinal round of the pre-qualifying round and was defeated by the 70th-ranked player, Iva Puflerova of South Alabama … In the spring season, Botts posted an 8-14 record while playing in the No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 positions … Her ability to play the better opponents when needed to, benefitted the team tremendously, especially when she picked up big SEC wins over Auburn’s Summa Edwards and Tennessee’s Candy Reid … In doubles, Botts teamed up with fellow sophomore Fernanda Tsucamoto and on March 24, the duo defeated No. 33 Mellis/Venkatesan of Georgia, 8-5 … Botts/Tsucamoto compiled a 7-13 record as a tandem … Earned her first varsity letter.
PRIOR TO LSU
Botts was a perfect 13-0 during her senior season to win the 1998 Oregon State Championship … Captured the district championships for the 1997 and ’98 seasons and led her team to District titles three times … In 1997, Botts ranked No. 54 in the nation and moved into the Top 40 during 1998 … Quarterfinalist at the National Indoor Championships … Finished with a career record of 60-5.
PERSONAL
Born on April 6, 1980 … She is currently majoring in sociology … Parents are Craig Botts and Susan Denbo … Full name is Tamara Lee Botts.
BOTTS’CAREER STATISTICS
| Singles | |||||||||
|
Overall |
vs. Top 100 |
SEC Dual |
|||||||
|
Year |
W |
L |
Pct. |
W |
L |
Pct. |
W |
L |
Pct. |
|
1998-99 |
16 |
21 |
.432 |
0 |
3 |
.000 |
2 |
10 |
.167 |
|
1999-00 |
13 |
26 |
.333 |
1 |
1 |
.500 |
3 |
10 |
.231 |
|
2000-01 |
19 |
18 |
.514 |
0 |
3 |
.000 |
4 |
8 |
.333 |
|
2001-02 |
21 |
14 |
.600 |
1 |
3 |
.250 |
3 |
8 |
.273 |
|
TOTALS |
69 |
79 |
.466 |
2 |
10 |
.167 |
12 |
36 |
.250 |
| Doubles | |||||||||
|
Overall |
vs. Top 50 |
SEC Dual |
|||||||
|
Year |
W |
L |
Pct. |
W |
L |
Pct. |
W |
L |
Pct. |
|
1998-99 |
13 |
16 |
.448 |
1 |
3 |
.250 |
2 |
9 |
.182 |
|
1999-00 |
6 |
6 |
.500 |
– |
– |
—- |
2 |
4 |
.333 |
|
2000-01 |
17 |
18 |
.486 |
1 |
1 |
.500 |
2 |
9 |
.182 |
|
2001-02 |
21 |
12 |
.636 |
0 |
2 |
.000 |
6 |
5 |
.545 |
|
TOTALS |
57 |
52 |
.523 |
2 |
6 |
.250 |
12 |
27 |
.308 |