The sixth-seeded LSU women’s basketball team will, for all intents and purposes, start a new season at 6:30 p.m. Sunday when it takes on 11th-seeded Green Bay in the PMAC for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Phoenix (29-2, 16-0 Horizon League) come to Baton Rouge riding a 24-game win streak, not allowing a loss in conference play or in their home venue all season.
The Lady Tigers (20-11, 10-6 Southeastern Conference) finished the regular season with a six-game win streak of their own, beating three top-15 teams in that span.
LSU coach Nikki Caldwell said she isn’t concerned with the past.
“There is only going to be one champion crowned,” Caldwell said. “It is zero to zero when you start out with your record.”
The Lady Tigers have the luxury of opening the tournament at home as LSU hosts the first and second rounds for the second consecutive year.
LSU junior guard Jeanne Kenney said she expects the familiar environment to play a significant role in LSU’s favor.
“They are coming to our house, and this is a big SEC house,” Kenney said. “We look to take care of our home court. It is going to be a fight. I am glad it is at home. I am excited.”
Senior guard Adrian Ritchie anchored Green Bay this season, leading the Phoenix in four statistical categories including scoring with 14.2 points per game and rebounding after registering 159 total boards.
The Phoenix regularly dominated their opponents this season with an average scoring margin of 19.6 points (fifth in the NCAA) and a 1.36 assist-to-turnover ratio (fourth in the NCAA).
“[Green Bay] is well-coached and will have the discipline to run their action,” Caldwell said. “They are a very unselfish team when you look at their assist-to-turnover ratio. They shoot the three ball, and they make a lot of them. We have been plagued in that area at times.”
Junior First-Team All-SEC forward Theresa Plaisance has led the Lady Tigers this season, finishing second in the conference in scoring with 17.4 points per game. She also tallied an SEC-leading 82 blocks throughout the course of the season.
For LSU to have success in the postseason, it will have to rely on more than just individual performances, especially with a shallow roster.
“Everyone has to do their part. When we talk about our slogan, ‘eight is enough,’ we do feel that eight [players] is enough,” Caldwell said.
The winner of the contest will move on to the second round when it will face either No. 3 seed Penn State or No. 14 seed Cal Poly.
“Everyone has to do their part. When we talk about our slogan, ‘eight is enough,’ we do feel that eight [players] is enough.”
Who: No. 6 seed LSU vs. No. 11 seed Green Bay
When: Sunday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: PMAC
Broadcasts: ESPN2, 107.3 FM
