First-year LSU women’s basketball coach Nikki Caldwell took the reins in 2011, guiding the Lady Tigers to the Southeastern Conference tournament championship game and a berth in the NCAA tournament.
The campaign also included another birth, that of Caldwell’s first child on March 6, between the SEC and NCAA tournaments.
Caldwell returned to the court days later and coached the Lady Tigers to a 64-56 win against San Diego State in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
LSU’s season came to an end two days later at the hands of Penn State, finishing the season with a 23-10 record and parting ways with a senior class that included one of the most decorated players in program history.
“This senior class is a class that isn’t replaceable, nor will we try to,” Caldwell said. “We’re going to miss them as people and miss their joy and humor.”
Former Lady Tiger forward LaSondra Barrett finished her collegiate career as LSU’s 11th most prolific scorer before being drafted No. 10 in the WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics.
Barrett paced the Lady Tigers in scoring and on the boards her senior season, averaging 12.8 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game. She broke the team’s career free-throws-made mark with 497.
“Washington is getting a great player but most importantly, a great person,” Caldwell said. “She will be a great ambassador for LSU as a professional.”
The Lady Tigers also move on without senior forwards Courtney Jones, Swayze Black, Taylor Turnbow and senior guard Destini Hughes, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on Jan. 19.
“I don’t look at my senior season being defined by a Penn State loss,” Barrett said. “I look at all of the other stuff, whether it was us having to battle after Destini’s injury or me having to play point guard or all the other personal stuff we had to go through. Those things are what I look at, and those are what I will remember as highlights in my future.”
Despite the injuries, the Lady Tigers defeated four ranked teams, including two wins over top-10-ranked Kentucky.
 
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