March 19, 2010
Making Some Noise by Krysten Oliphant
Pocket Full of Pride by Jimmy Watson
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RUSTON - For years, Louisiana Tech played the role of Goliath during its appearances in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament as the Lady Techsters won 65 games, advanced to nine Final Fours and won two national titles.
However, on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT, Teresa Weatherspoon and Co. will face a role reversal as they play the underdog role of David in their matchup against the ACC champion Florida State Seminoles.
LA Tech (23-8) is the No. 14 seed - the lowest in the program's history - while the Seminoles (26-5) are the No. 3 seed and playing on their home floor at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
"Of course (our players) understand they're not picked to win," Weatherspoon said during her press conference Friday prior to open practice. "I always say this is still the game of basketball, and we got here for a reason. The ball must go into the basket for you, and it must go into the basket for them. What it takes is a great deal of will and training and hard work to make it go your way.
"If you don't go out there and work hard and you don't believe you can win there's no need to step between the four lines. We must believe and that's what we've done all year long, regardless of where we are, we've always believed. This is a tremendous basketball team here in Florida State University. They are 15-1 on this court, a very good basketball team, a well-coached basketball team. It's going to take every bit of effort and every bit of will that we have to play here."
After a three-year hiatus from the NCAA Tournament, the Lady Techsters return and will face the same opponent it saw last time as Florida State defeated LA Tech 80-71 in Denver in 2006.
Seminoles head coach Sue Semrau said although her opponent doesn't remind her of any particular ACC program, they have caught her attention.
"We've been trying to figure (out who they remind us of)," Semrau said. "They are an ACC-caliber team. I can't really pinpoint it. We have gone from Georgia Tech to NC State. We have gone all over the map. I can't pinpoint that.
"But, their post play is as good as we've seen all year. Shanavia Dowdell is averaging 18 and 13 in her conference. She is a beast on the blocks and can step out and shoot it, and we're going to have our hands full with her. Then, you think she's the only one. You look over and see Adrienne Johnson, and she's Chasity Clayton-like in her athleticism and her ability to get to the rack. And then, they have shooters on the outside. They have penetrators. They are a very good basketball team. They are very balanced. I look at stats. Those numbers as a 14 seed are real easy to throw out the window."
Dowdell, the two-time Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, said that her and her teammates are looking forward to the challenge.
"We know that we are the underdog, but we can't come in already defeated," Dowdell said. "We have to be confident. People aren't expecting us to win, but we have to come in and work hard and show everybody that we deserve to be here and that we are going to play our best no matter who we are up against."
Dowdell will face a personal challenge on Saturday as she matches up against 6-foot-5-inch Jacinta Monroe, who leads FSU averaging 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
"I love a good challenge," Dowdell said. "I like playing against post players that are bigger than me because it's my chance to step up to a challenge and show people that just because we are undersized doesn't mean we can't play. I just accept the challenge and I am looking forward to it."
Florida State is one of the top defensive teams in the ACC, holding opponents to only 35 percent shooting and only 59.4 points per game.
"This is an exciting, exciting moment for us," Weatherspoon said. "This is the first time for our kids to be here and they're bright eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to go. We're playing against an incredible, incredible basketball team in Florida State. They've had an incredible season, they're back-to-back ACC champions, and they're on their home court, something that's going to be a difficult task for us."
The contest can be seen regionally on ESPN2 as well as nationally on ESPN360.com. It can also be heard live on the LA Tech Sports Network on ESPN 97.7 FM with the pregame show beginning at 1 p.m. CT.
