Feb. 15, 2011

Game Notes

Audio of Weatherspoon Presser

RUSTON - Louisiana Tech will be going for its 12th straight win Thursday night when the Lady Techsters host Hawaii at 7 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center.

And although on the surface a victory would be just another one on the resume for this year, historically, it would be a milestone for the tradition-rich Techster program.

Since the doors of the Thomas Assembly Center opened in 1982, the Lady Techsters have dominated opponents to a tune of 399 wins and only 40 losses. Thus, Thursday night will be an opportunity for this year's Lady Techster team to make some history at home with win No. 400 in the Thomas Assembly Center.

Current LA Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, who helped lead Lady Techster teams to a 61-1 mark in the Thomas Assembly Center during her four year playing career, said that every Lady Techster team should take pride in winning in Ruston.

"It's how it should be," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "When you play at home you should protect your house; protect the place where you train and where people come to support you. That's what it has been about being a Lady Techster. We understand how to protect our house.

"It makes it difficult for other teams to come in here and play. It's a motivating factor for us. It's devastating for other teams. They walk in here and see the banners; it works in our favor."

Tech's winning percentage of 90.9 percent makes the Thomas Assembly Center the third toughest active on-campus arena for opposing teams to compete at, only surpassed by Thompson-Boling in Knoxville and Gampel Pavilion in Storrs.

Weatherspoon, whose LA Tech teams are 21-5 at home since she took over the reigns of the program, said that her current Lady Techster players understand the tradition that they are building upon.

"They have to understand the history," Weatherspoon said. "Our kids do understand the history of this program. They have met quite a few of the players from the past. They aren't trying to be like any other teams. They want to leave their own mark in Lady Techster history that they can be proud of. They understand that they are standing on the shoulders of those who came before them. "

Ironically, the history at the Thomas Assembly Center didn't start out on a positive note as the Lady Techsters lost their first ever game played in the new facility, falling 64-58 to top-ranked USC on December 4, 1982.

Five days later, the Techsters recorded the inaugural win at the arena, defeating Alabama 83-56.

An even bigger milestone is on the horizon as the LA Tech program currently stands at 994 victories - leaving it only six shy of joining Tennessee as the only two programs to reach 1,000. If the Lady Techsters are able to continue winning, they could go for win No. 1000 in their home season finale on March 5 against Idaho.