The LSU women’s basketball team isn’t having a relaxing winter break. The Lady Tigers will be hard at work playing eight games to prepare for the stretch run of the season. LSU returns to the court Dec. 16 to take on Louisiana Tech in Ruston. The Lady Tigers (6-2) will enter the game riding a hot defensive streak. LSU has given up just 41 points per game in the past four games, while holding opponents to just 31 percent shooting. “Our defense has returned,” said LSU coach Van Chancellor. “Our defense has just been unbelievable. I think we’ve played about as well on that end as you can get.” Following the game against the Bulldogs, the Lady Tigers will fly to Cancun, Mexico, to take part in the Caribbean Classic. LSU will take on Illinois-Chicago on Dec. 18 and Miami on Dec. 19. Sophomore guard Allison Hightower said while the Lady Tigers look forward to spending time on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the team will be all about business on the court against its two opponents. “I don’t think [focusing] will be tough at all,” Hightower said. “We know what we have to do, and we know we need to get better. I think we will go down there and work hard and have fun.” The Lady Tigers will return home for the holidays but hit the road again Dec. 28 to face Middle Tennessee. LSU will play its first home game in more than a month Dec. 30 against New Orleans. Chancellor said he is anxious to see if the Lady Tigers will be able to continue to play at a high level defensively before Southeastern Conference play begins. “I’m excited about going to Louisiana Tech, and I’m excited about playing a few games in Cancun,” Chancellor said. “I’m also excited about the games that follow the holiday. It will be another indication of where this team is defensively.” LSU’s first game in 2008 will be in Tallahassee, Fla., on Jan. 3 against Florida State. The Lady Tigers begin conference play during the break, playing a road game against Arkansas on Jan. 10 and Vanderbilt on Jan. 13 in the PMAC. Chancellor, who coached at Ole Miss from 1978 to 1997, said he is looking forward to coaching against SEC opponents for the first time in 10 years. “Conference play is the same as the other games, except it’s just taken up a few notches,” Chancellor said. “I am ready to see how we’re going to do there.”
—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]