Tonight's Game: Tonight's contest is the last non-conference game of the season for Louisiana Tech. The Lady Techsters have posted an 12-3 mark on the year, including a 9-3 record against non-conference opponents.
The Series: Louisiana Tech and Connecticut have played four times with each program claiming two victories. The Lady Techsters lost 63-61 to the Huskies in 1991-92 (the first time the two programs played). However, Tech won the next two games 83-81 in overtime in 1995-96 and 90-76 during the 1998-99 season. Connecticut prevailed in Storrs last season by a score of 90-63. The only time Tech and Connecticut played at the Thomas Assembly Centerpreviously was the 90-76 Lady Techster win in 98-99.
Radio: Tonight's contest can be heard live on KNBB-FM 99.3 with Tech Media Relations Director Malcolm Butler providing the play-by-play. The pregame show starts at 6:00 and tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
Television: Tonight's contest will be televised live on ESPN2 with Pam Ward calling the action and Nancy Lieberman-Cline providing the color commentary.
Officials: Officials for tonight's contest are Greg Small, Barry Roberts and Robyn Ensminger.
Coaches: This game features two of the top coaches in the country in Tech's Leon Barmore and Connecticut's Geno Auriemma. Barmore in his 19th season as the head coach at Tech is 532-80 (.868), while Auriemma in his 16th season is 403-95 (.809). Tennessee's Pat Summitt is the only other active Division I women's coach with a winning percentage at 80 percent or above.
Retirement Ceremony: At halftime of today's game, Louisiana Tech head coach Leon Barmore will have his No. 12 jersey retired from his playing days as a Bulldog from 1965-67. Coach Barmore scored 1,168 career points and grabbed 265 rebounds during his three-year career at Tech. Barmore joins Karl Malone and Jackie Moreland as the only three players in Tech history to score 1,000 or more points in only a three-year career. Barmore's jersey is only the third to be retired by Tech along with Moreland and Malone.
Faces in the Crowd: Former Louisiana Tech assistant coach and present WNBA Indiana Fever head coach Nell Fortner will be on hand at this evenings contest. Fortner was an assistant at Tech from 1990-96 and helped coach the Lady Techsters to the 1993-94 National Championship game. Fortner recently led Team USA to the Olympic gold medal at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia.
Scouting the Huskies: Connecticut returns all five starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's NCAA National Championship squad that posted a 36-1 record. The Huskies are a perfect 10-0 on the season and ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls. Connecticut has been ranked No. 1 for 29 consecutive weeks and is chasing Louisiana Tech's record of 36 straight No. 1 rankings (1980-1982). Coach Geno Auriemma's squad is considered the deepest team in the country with four players averaging double digits and eight averaging at least six points a game. Even more incredible is the fact 11 different UConn players are averaging at least 10 minutes a game. Kodak All-Americans Shea Ralph and Svetlana Abrosimova lead a Connecticut team which is averaging 94.8 points a game and shooting an incredible 55 percent from the field.
Closing In: Although Louisiana Tech is only in its 27th year of women's basketball, the Lady Techster program is quickly closing in on win No. 750. With 12 wins this season, Tech has posted 749 victories and has a chance to win No. 750 against No. 1 ranked Connecticut today. Tech is one of only two women's basketball programs to have won 700 or more games.
By No. of Victories (As of Jan. 5)Program Record Years1. Tennessee 834-208 562. Louisiana Tech 749-126 273. Old Dominion 684-226 32 4. Texas 680-192 275. James Madison 675-382 79 By Winning Percentage (As of Dec. 29)Program Record Winning Percentage1. La. Tech 749-126 .8562. Tennessee 834-208 .8003. Montana 524-142 .7864. Texas 680-192 .7795. SFA 674-218 .755
Vs. Top 25: Louisiana Tech has posted a 3-1 record against teams ranked in the Top 25 at the time they played. The Lady Techsters defeated No. 13 Virginia 72-59, No. 4 Purdue 68-63 and No. 14 Mississippi State 83-65 while losing 70-62 to No. 2 Tennessee. Three other of Tech's opponents are receiving votes in this weeks polls (Indiana, Michigan and Chattanooga).
Home, Sweet, Home: Louisiana Tech has dominated opponents for the past 18-plus seasons in the Thomas Assembly Center (8,000). Over the course of that time, the Lady Techsters have posted a 274-16 record at home. Seven of those 16 losses came in a two-year span in the early '90s. Tech has won 86 of the last 88 games at the TAC. The last two losses have come to Tennessee.
Preseason Honors: Louisiana Tech was the unanimous choice to win the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference this season in the preseason coaches poll. Lady Techsters Ayana Walker and Takeisha Lewis also earned preseason All-Sun Belt Conference honors.
East Division West DivisionLouisiana Tech (12) 72 Denver (10) 68Western Kentucky 56 North Texas 53Florida International 48 New Orleans 45Arkansas State 32 N Mex. St. (2) 40Middle Tennessee 31 ULL 31Arkansas-Little Rock 13 South Alabama 15
The New Sun Belt: The Sun Belt Conference added three new schools this season as Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State and North Texas joined. Thus the 12-member conference is now divided into an East Division (Tech, Western Kentucky, Arkansas State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Middle Tennessee and Florida International) and West Division (Denver, New Mexico State, North Texas, Louisiana-Lafayette, New Orleans and South Alabama).
WAC .... 2001: 2000-01 marks the final year for Louisiana Tech in the Sun Belt Conference. Starting in the fall of 2001, the school will make and all-sports move to the Western Athletic Conference.
Where They Rank: Louisiana Tech currently ranks No. 8 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25 Poll and No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. Connecticut ranks No. 1 in both polls.
No. 1 Ranking: Connecticut was ranked No. 1 from the start to the finish last season and has been ranked No. 1 every week this year. The Huskies are trying to become only the second team ever ranked No. 1 for every week for two consecutive weeks. The first was Louisiana Tech during the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons. UConn is also chasing Tech's record of 36 straight weeks atop the polls which occurred during those same two seasons (Connecticut has been ranked No. 1 for 30 straight weeks).
Tech vs. the Sun Belt Conference: Louisiana Tech claims a 155-12 record against current members of the Sun Belt Conference. Tech has posted a winning mark against every member of the conference with the exception of New Mexico State, who the Lady Techsters have never played (Arkansas State, 29-2; Arkansas-Little Rock, 3-0; Denver, 3-0; Florida International, 5-0; Louisiana-Lafayette, 36-0; Middle Tennessee, 2-0; New Orleans, 38-2; North Texas, 2-0; South Alabama, 18-0; and Western Kentucky, 19-8).
39 and Counting: Louisiana Tech has won the last 39 regular season games against Sun Belt Conference opponents. The last loss during the regular season to a conference foe was at Western Kentucky (88-86) in 1997-98. Since the Tech joined the SBC in 1991-92, the Lady Techsters have posted a 122-9 mark during regular season league contests.
Techsters Dominate SBC foes in TAC: Over the past nine seasons, Louisiana Tech has dominated conference opponents in the Thomas Assembly Center, posting a 64-1 mark. Included in that impressive record is a current 63-game winning streak.
Last Time Out: Louisiana Tech's bench scored 59 points to lead the eighth-ranked Lady Techsters to a 95-57 win over Arkansas-Little Rock in Sun Belt Conference action at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Cheryl Ford scored 17 points, Kristie McClain added a career-high 16, Kenya Bibbs 12 and Ovlina Lewis 10 as Louisiana Tech (12-3, 3-0) built an early 10-point lead and ran away from the Trojans (5-7, 0-2) in the second half.
"I was very pleased with (our bench)," said Tech head coach Leon Barmore. "Kristie did a really good job out there tonight. She is a player that just needs confidence, knowing that she fits in and contributes. I was her biggest fan tonight. The bench played well and we needed that tonight."
McClain connected on five of 10 shots, including three three-pointers, and added career-highs with eight rebounds, three steals and 30 minutes of action.
"I liked her defense tonight, and I just think she was the star of the game," Barmore added.
Tech's defense continued to dominate Sun Belt Conference opponents as the Lady Techsters forced UALR into 33 turnovers, 32 percent shooting and held the Trojans top two scorers, Muci Haris and Scealita Drennon to zero points.
A bucket by junior guard Essence Perry gave Tech a 12-2 advantage at the 15:06 mark before the Lady Techsters pushed the lead to 20 at the half at 48-28. In the second half Tech shot 56 percent from the field (19-34) while limiting Arkansas-Little Rock to 24 percent (8-of-34) as the Lady Techsters pulled away for the 38 point win.
Freshman guard Amber Obaze added 12 points for Tech.
LeeAnn Stephenson ad Maleka Sweat came off the bench to lead UALR with 14 points each, while Alicia Cash added 11. The Trojans starting five combined for a mere 11 points, but UALR head coach Tracy Stewart-Lange was pleased with her bench play.
"Our young kids keep getting better and better," said UALR head coach Tracy Stewart-Lange. "They came off the bench and competed very hard. We didn't seem to be quite as intimidated as we were last year. The foul trouble got us out of our rotation."
With the win Tech improved its Sun Belt Conference regular season home winning streak to 63 straight games. Tech returns to action Sunday when the Lady Techsters host No. 1 ranked Connecticut at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Home Stretch: Today's game against Connecticut is the seventh time in the last eigth games Tech has played in the friendly confines of the Thomas Assembly Center. After tonight, the Lady Techsters travel to North Texas before returning home for two more SBC games (Arkansas State, Jan. 13, and Western Kentucky, Jan. 18).
Coach Leon Barmore: Barmore enters his 19th season as head coach of the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. He began at Tech as an assistant coach in 1977-78 under Sonja Hogg and was promoted to associate head coach in 1980-81 and then co-head coach in 1982-83. In 1985-86 Barmore took over as the lone head coach. In his 18-plus seasons, Barmore has compiled a career record of 532-80 (.868), the highest winning percentage among active Division I mens or womens coaches.
Elite Group: By winning 30-plus games last season, Louisiana Tech Head Coach Leon Barmore became one of only three coaches in the history of mens or womens basketball to post five consecutive seasons of 30 or more victories. Barmore joined former Tech coach Sonja Hogg (6 straight) and Connecticut Head Coach Geno Auriemma as the only threesome to accomplish the feat.
Assisting Barmore: The offseason was a busy one for Barmore who hired two new coaches and an administrative assistant. Kurt Budke joins the Lady Techsters as the associate head coach after leading Trinity Valley Community College to four national titles in the past seven seasons. Stacy Johnson joins the staff as an assistant after leading Cameron University for the past three seasons. Former Lady Techster letter winner Katie Cochran rounded out the new coaching staff as the administrative assistant. Chris Long returns for his second year at Tech as an assistant.
Ice, Ice, Baby: After Louisiana Tech defeated Arkansas State 62-59 in Jonesboro Dec. 31st, the Lady Techsters bus ride home was quite an event. Although everything looked clear upon departure from the Convocation Center at 4:15 p.m., it didn't take long for the winter weather to set in. Due to the snowstorm which hit Arkansas and Louisiana New Year's Eve, the normal five-hour bus ride home took nine hours instead as the bus pulled in to the Thomas Assembly Center around 1:15 a.m.
Building Blocks: Louisiana Tech junior Ayana Walker has been one of the nation's top shot blockers this season, already recording a five-block performance against No. 14 Mississippi State and two six-block efforts against No. 2 Tennessee and SBC foe Denver. The Houston, Texas, native ranks No. 10 in the country and No. 1 in the Sun Belt Conference at 2.9 blocks a contest. The six blocked shots against Tennessee and Denver ranks second in the Tech record books for most blocked shots by a player in the Thomas Assembly Center (ties Venus Lacy and Tori Harrison). It also ranks No. 4 in the Tech record books for a single game anywhere (tied with both Lacy and Harrison).
Rejection specialist: With four blocked shots against UALR Friday night, Ayana Walker moved past former Lady Techster Debra Rodman into eighth place on the Tech career list with 144. Rodman, who played for the Lady Techsters from 1981-1984, is the sister of former NBA star Dennis Rodman.
Tech Career Blocks Leaders6. LaShawn Brown 1537. Erica Westbrooks 1468. Ayana Walker 1449. Debra Rodman 14210. Elinor Griffin 105SBC Career Blocks Leaders7. Adrian Vickers, USA 1787. Orphie Moore, USA 1789. LaShawn Brown, Tech 15310. Ayana Walker, Tech 144
Believe It or Not: Louisiana Tech junior guard Brooke Lassiter entered the season as Tech's all-time leading free throw shooter percent-wise at 90.1 percent through her first two seasons. The Portland, Ark, native started this season hitting 45 of her first 46 free throws.. However, in Techs 62-59 win over Arkansas State Dec. 31, amazingly Lassiter misfired on 3 of 4 free throw attempts. It marked the first time in her career that she had missed more than one free throw in a game. Lassiter is now 51 of 55 on the year for 93 percent.
Call the Cops: Through the first 12 games of this season, junior forward Takeisha Lewis had registered seven steals. However, in Techs wins over Arkansas State and Denver, Lewis totaled 12 steals (seven vs. Arkansas State and five vs. Denver).
Defending the Star: In recent games, Louisiana Tech has done a nice job defending the opponents top scoring threat.
Team Player (Average) PointsMississippi St LaToya Thomas (26) 14Tennessee Tamika Catchings (14) 2Denver Michaela Pavlickova (17) 10UALR Muci Haris (15) 0
Those four players combined to average 72 points, but only scored 26 against the Lady Techsters while connecting on a mere 10 of 39 shots from the field.
3-point Struggles: After shooting 38 percent (163-434) as a team from the three-point line last year (the best ever by a Lady Techster team), this years squad has struggled from treyville. Through the first 14 games, Tech is only hitting 28 percent of its threes as the Lady Techsters have connected on only 34 of 118. Tech ranked No. 1 in the SBC in that category last season, but presently ranks No. 12.
Inside, Not Out: Last season 55 percent of Techs points came from their perimeter players led by the All-American backcourt of Tamicha Jackson and Betty Lennox. However, this season only 33 percent of the Lady Techsters scoring is by its perimeter players as Techs top three offensive threats are post players (Ayana Walker, Kenya Bibbs and Takeisha Lewis).
Change of the game plan:Last season Louisiana Tech shot a whopping 434 three-pointers or an average of 12.8 a game. This season Tech has only attempted 118 treys through 15 games or an average of 7.8 a game.
WNIT Champs:For the second time in five seasons, Louisiana Tech captured the Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament by defeating No. 4 ranked Purdue 68-63 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Tech advanced to the championship game with a 72-59 win over No. 13 Virginia. Tech is now a perfect 8-0 all-time in the preseason WNIT.
Strength of Schedule: Louisiana Tech has played a formidable early season schedule as 11 of the first 15 opponents have a winning record at this point of the season -- Rice (8-4), Chattanooga (8-3), Purdue (12-3), Michigan (8-4), Indiana (11-2), Houston (7-5), Virginia (8-4), Mississippi State (9-2), Tennessee (13-1), Arkansas State (7-6) and Denver (8-5). Nicholls State (1-9), Centenary (0-13), Texas-Arlington (2-8) and UALR (5-7) are the only Tech opponents with a losing record. Thus the combined record of Techs opponents is 99-69 (.589). Take away the three teams with losing marks and the combined record is 96-39 (.711).
MVP Showing: Junior forward Ayana Walker earned the MVP honors at the WNIT after recording double-doubles in both the semifinals and finals. Walker scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Virginia and added a career-high 24 points and 10 rebounds against Purdue.
All-Tournament, Too: In addition to Walkers great showing at the WNIT, junior guard Brooke Lassiter earned all-tournament team honors for her performance. Lassiter recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 11 assists against Virginia before adding 12 points and four assists against Purdue.
Frierson out: Louisiana Tech sophomore sensation Catrina Frierson suffered a season-ending knee injury in a pickup game in mid-September and is out for the year. The Vicksburg, Miss., native averaged 10.5 points and 4.6 rebounds a contest as a freshman. Frierson increased her production drastically during the postseason, averaging 15.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in the SBC and NCAA Tournaments.
Antony Out: Louisiana Tech sophomore guard Ashley Antony will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery Dec. 20 on her ankle (ligament damage). The Anacoco, La., native was averaging 1.3 points in seven games this season, but was the first guard off the bench for Head Coach Leon Barmore.
Seniorless: Louisiana Techs 13-member active roster this season has one glaring -- yet promising -- feature as it contains zero seniors. Leon Barmores squad features six juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen.
Lucky No. 8: Louisiana Tech claimed its eighth straight Sun Belt Conference regular season title last year. The Lady Techsters have won every title since the 1991-92 season when the Techsters finished third. Tech also won its fifth straight tournament title.
Double Trouble: All-America candidate Ayana Walker leads Louisiana Tech with five double-doubles this season and 10 for her career. Junior guard Brooke Lassiter posted her first career double-double against Virginia Nov. 19 with 12 points and 11 assists.
Player 00-01 CareerTakeisha Lewis 4 13Ayana Walker 5 10Cheryl Ford 0 1Brooke Lassiter 1* 1** denotes points and assists
20/20: Entering this season, Louisiana Tech junior forward Ayana Walker had only scored 20 or more points once in her career. However, through the first 12 games of this season, Walker has eclipsed the 20-point plateau on seven separate ocassions (23 vs. Rice, 24 vs. No. 4 Purdue, 20 vs. Indiana and 26 vs. No. 2 Tennessee, 20 vs. Centenary, 23 vs. Arkansas State, 22 vs. Denver).
Dishing -- And Protecting -- The Rock: Although Louisiana Tech posted a 31-3 mark in 1999-00, Head Coach Leon Barmore was not happy about his teams assist to turnover ratio as the Lady Techsters recorded 542 assists while turning the ball over 610 times. However, through the first 15 games this season Tech's starting guard combination of Essence Perry (36-35), Brooke Lassiter (76-39) have combined to record 112 assists and commit only 74 turnovers.
40% -- Not: Through the first 15 games of the season, Louisiana Tech has allowed only two opponents to shoot 40 percent or better from the field. Houston shot 42 percent in the Lady Cougars victory Dec. 3, while Tennessee shot 41 percent Dec. 10.
Century Mark: With the 100-34 win over Centenary Dec. 12, Louisiana Tech kept a pretty impressive streak alive. The Lady Techsters have broken the 100-point barrier in at least one game in every season in the programs history.
Rebounding War: Last year Louisiana Tech led the nation in rebounding margin at +10.6 per game while outrebounding 31 of 34 opponents. Thus far this season, Tech has outrebounded 13 of 15 opponents by an average of +9.8 a game.
Long-range bomber: With seven three-pointers this season, junior Brooke Lassiter has moved into 10th place on the Tech career three-pointer list. Lassiter entered the season with 25 and is now chasing Amanda Wilson with 33.
Tech Career 3-pointers Made Leaders5. Betty Lennox 886. Christie Sides 697. Cara Guillon 468. Linda Watson 369. Amanda Wilson 3310. Brooke Lassiter 32Tech Career 3-pointers Attempted Leaders5. Betty Lennox 2516. Christie Sides 1547. Cara Guillon 1408. Linda Watson 1229. Amy Brown 10510. Brooke Lassiter 93
All-Time Women's Home Win Streaks: Louisiana Tech holds three of the nation's Top 10 all-time home win streaks, including a school record 62 game win streak from Dec. 9, 1982 to Feb. 18, 1986.
1. Tennessee 69 (Feb. 1, 1991-Jan. 2, 1996)1. Grambling 69 (Feb. 1, 1994-present)3. Auburn 68 (Feb. 5, 1986-Nov. 23, 1991)4. Louisiana Tech 62 (Dec. 9, 1982-Feb. 18, 1986)5. Virginia 61 (Jan. 18, 1992-Dec. 20, 1995)6. Connecticut 54 (Jan. 24, 1996-Jan. 2, 1999)7. Colorado 53 (Feb. 20, 1980-Nov. 19, 1983)7. Rutgers 53 (Feb. 10, 1985-Dec. 30, 1988)9. Louisiana Tech 52 (Mar. 16, 1995-Mar. 16, 1998)10. Louisiana Tech 49 (Nov. 30, 1978-Dec. 4, 1982)10. Stanford 49 (Nov. 25, 1994-Nov. 26, 1997)10. Rutgers 49 (Dec. 10, 1977-Jan. 30, 1982)
Frosh Phenom?: Louisiana Tech freshman guard Amber Obaze was one of 42 players 18 years or younger invited to the 2000 USA Basketball Womens Junior World Championship Qualifying team trials this past summer. The Dallas, Texas, native is also the first true freshman to begin the season as a starter for a Leon Barmore squad since the 1996 season when Tamicha Jackson started at the point guard position.
Kansas State ... Trinity Valley ... Louisiana Tech: Louisiana Tech junior Essence Perry is the starting point guard for the Lady Techsters, marking the third team in three seasons that the Lawton, Okla., native has started for. Perry started every game at Kansas State her freshman season, leading the Wildcats in assists (137) and steals (48). The 5-foot-7 guard then transferred to Trinity Valley Community College where she averaged 9.3 points and 5.3 assists for the Lady Cardinals.
Jones Cup Invitees: A pair of Louisiana Tech players were invited to the USA Basketball Jones Cup trials this past summer. Junior Ayana Walker and sophomore Catrina Frierson were among 45 college players invited to the elite camp.
Mailman Delivers: Dont be surprised if you think you see Utah Jazz star Karl "The Mailman"Malone when you look into the face of Lady Techster No. 32 Cheryl Ford. The sophomore standout from Summerfield High School is the daughter of Malone. Cheryl's brother Daryl plays for the Tech men's squad.
Smith Inks Early: Louisiana Tech signed its only recruit for the year during the early signing period when Erica Smith inked with the Lady Techsters Nov. 8. Smith is a 5-foot-10 guard from Palestine-Wheatley High School in Arkansas and has been rated by numerous publications as the No. 1 player in the state. Smith was one of 42 players 18 years or younger invited to the 2000 USA Basketball Junior World Championships Qualifying team trials this past summer.
Recapping Last Season: Louisiana Tech posted a 31-3 mark and advanced to the Midwest Regional Finals in Kansas City. Along the way, Tech won its eighth straight Sun Belt Conference regular season title and its fifth straight SBC tournament title. Head Coach Leon Barmore recorded his 500th career victory against South Alabama Jan. 10, 2000, in Ruston. Tamicha Jackson became the 16th Kodak All-American in the history of the program. Betty Lennox also earned numerous All-American honors and was named the SBC Player of the Year. Jackson, Lennox and Shaka Massey were all selected in the WNBA draft, making Tech the only school to have three players drafted.
