April 2, 2010
RUSTON - For the second consecutive year, Louisiana Tech was the only state school to place two players on the all-state first team as forwards Shanavia Dowdell and Adrienne Johnson both earned spots on the squad released Friday by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Dowdell was edged out by LSU's Allison Hightower by four votes for the state Player of the Year as the teams were voted on by the university sports information directors and selected members of the state's media.
Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton, who guided the Green Wave to the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles and the NCAA Tournament, edged out LA Tech's Teresa Weatherspoon by one vote for state Coach of the Year.
Ricshanda Bickham and Alisha Allen, both of Nicholls, were named the state's Newcomer and Freshman of the Year, respectively.
Dowdell, Johnson and Hightower were joined on the first team along with Bickham and Tulane's Chassidy Brown.
Dowdell was named this year's WAC Player of the Year, earned WAC Tournament MVP honors, was a member of the WAC All-Defensive team and the WBCA All-Region VII team after averaging 18.0 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. She also led the nation with 22 double-double games. Dowdell led Tech back to the NCAA Tournament when she helped lead her team to the WAC tournament title.
Johnson was also a big part of Louisiana Tech's success this year as she earned first team All-WAC, WAC All-Defensive Team, and WAC All-Tournament Team honors. She averaged 16.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and was three times named the WAC Player of the Week and a two-time LSWA Player of the Week throughout the season.
Hightower averaged 18.2 points per game this season for the Lady Tigers as they advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She was a finalist for the State Farm All-America team, John Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and Lowe's Senior Class Award. She was also a unanimous All-SEC first team selection.
Bickham led Nicholls in every major statistical category with the exception of rebounding. She averaged 18.8 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.5 steals per game and was named All-Southland Conference second team. Her steals average ranked fifth nationally.
Brown earned WBCA All-Region VI honors this season as well as being named second team All-Conference USA, Conference USA All-Defensive and All-Tournament Team. She averaged 13.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as she helped guide the Green Wave to the C-USA regular season and tournament titles, and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Voted onto the second team were Brittany Powell of Xavier, Tillisha Givens of Louisiana College, Trenese Smith of Loyola, LaSondra Barrett of LSU, and Hannah Kador of Southern.
The third team was comprised of Tulane's Danielle Nunn, Brittiany Houston of Northwestern State, ULL's Mercedes Johnson, UNO's Brittany Helm, and Sharday Cotton of LSU-Shreveport.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Allison Hightower, LSU
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Ricshanda Bickham, Nicholls
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Alisha Allen, Nicholls
COACH OF THE YEAR: Lisa Stockton, Tulane
FIRST TEAM
Allison Hightower, LSU
Shanavia Dowdell, Louisiana Tech
Chassidy Brown, Tulane
Ricshanda Bickham, Nicholls
Adrienne Johnson, Louisiana Tech
SECOND TEAM
Brittany Powell, Xavier
Tillisha Givens, Louisiana College
Trenese Smith, Loyola
LaSondra Barrett, LSU
Hannah Kador, Southern
THIRD TEAM
Danielle Nunn, Tulane
Brittiany Houston, Northwestern State
Mercedes Johnson, Louisiana-Lafayette
Brittany Helm, UNO
Sharday Cotton, LSU-Shreveport
Player of the Year voting:
Allison Hightower 16; Shanavia Dowdell 12; Brittany Powell 2; Tillisha Givens 1; Hannah Kador 1.
Newcomer of the Year voting: Ricshanda Bickham 20; Danielle Nunn 7; Sharday Cotton 4; Rashima Jenkins 1.
Freshman of the Year voting: Alisha Allen 12; Trudy Armstead 8; Olivia Grayson 8; Adrienne Webb 4.
Coach of the Year voting: Lisa Stockton 9; Teresa Weatherspoon 8; Janice Joseph-Richard 6; Bo Broder 4; Van Chancellor 2; Sandy Pugh 2; Amy Champion 1.
