DENVER ? Louisiana Tech knew it would have its hands full with Florida State in its first round contest of the 2006 NCAA Tournament Saturday at the Pepsi Center.

However, now the 16th ranked Lady Techsters might have to find a way to win without its team leader as senior guard Tasha Williams is questionable for the 7:07 p.m. CST tip-off against the Seminoles.

Williams suffered a severe foot injury in Wednesday?s practice in Ruston and was visibly hobbled as she watched from the sideline as her teammates participated in an hour long practice Friday at the Pepsi Center.

?I can?t really say (whether or not I?ll be able to play) right now,? Williams told reporters during Friday?s press conference. ?I am going to go to practice (today) and see how it goes. It is going to be a game time decision.?

While Chris Long put his team through the workout Friday, Williams worked with Tech Athletic Trainer Anne Marquez on the side, testing the injury.

?Obviously, she is our team leader,? Long said. ?She is questionable right now, and we will just have to see how she responds tomorrow. If she can?t play, we will have to have other players step up.?

Williams earned first team All-Western Athletic Conference honors this season after averaging 13.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.8 steals per game. The Kingsland, Ark., native earned the WAC Tournament MVP award after leading the Lady Techsters to the conference championship title last week in Reno.

?She is our leader,? said junior forward Ty Moore. ?(If she can not play), we are going to have to step it up a notch. Hopefully she can.?

Tech (26-4) will face a Florida State team that finished fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season standings. The Seminoles, who lost to Connecticut 70-52 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Storrs last season, are a similar type of team to Louisiana Tech, boasting four players averaging double figures.

?Chris Long has done a tremendous coaching job with them,? said Florida State head coach Sue Semrau. ?They don?t have a star, but they are a well-rounded team. They have a lot of quick athletes. They have a lot of balance and a lot of weapons.?

The tournament will mark the sixth appearance for Florida State while Louisiana Tech keeps its string of 25 straight appearances alive.

?Last year everything was new (to us),? said Seminole guard Ganiyat Adeduntan. ?This year, we are more comfortable and we know what to expect. If we play well on defense, it will determine the outcome of the game.?

The contest will be televised live on ESPN2 with Pam Ward, Nancy Lieberman and Heather Cox calling the action.

The game will also be aired live on KXKZ-FM 107.5 with the pregame show starting at 6:35 p.m.