To be the best, you have to beat the best.And with four matchups against ranked opponents left on its schedule, the LSU women’s basketball team’s freshman-heavy roster will soon find out how it stacks up against some of the best teams in the country.   But despite the difficult schedule, LSU coach Van Chancellor has only one game circled on his calendar — tonight’s road game against New Orleans.”This is our biggest game of the year,” he said. “We cannot afford a loss and have to keep the momentum we have going.”Chancellor said following Sunday’s 55-34 win against Alabama, he pulled aside two of the team’s five leaders and emphasized the importance of being motivated to beat their in-state rival.”I told [junior guard Allison] Hightower and [sophomore guard Katherine] Graham that if we don’t play well, I’d hold you two responsible,” he said. “We have to win that game. There’s no ‘ifs,’ no ‘ands’ and no ‘maybes.'”LSU (8-5, 2-0) comes into the game hot, having won seven of its last nine games, including the win against Alabama.Since losing to No. 1 Connecticut on Jan. 3, the Lady Tigers have picked up their defensive effort.In the two games since the loss, LSU has allowed 38 points per game and held opponents to 25 percent shooting.”Here at LSU, we put a lot of pride in our defense,” Hightower said. “LSU’s known for their defense, and we don’t want to let that up.”But LSU’s offense has also been more efficient as of late.The Lady Tigers shoot 41 percent from the floor this season. But in the past six games, they have shot 45 percent from the floor.One player who has helped the Lady Tigers’ efficiency is Graham.Graham comes into the game fifth in the team in scoring, averaging 5.6 points per game. But the Birmingham, Ala., native leads the Lady Tigers in rebounding, assists and steals.Graham had one of the best games of her career against Alabama, picking up 11 points, six rebounds and three steals.With freshmen post players starting, Graham said Chancellor has emphasized rebounding to the team’s guards.”He told me that I had a good game and he likes what I did, but he wants me to block out more to secure some more rebounds,” she said.New Orleans comes into the game having lost three of its past five games.But the Privateers are 4-1 on the season against Louisiana competition, including a 3-0 record at home.The Lady Tigers’ defense will have to contain UNO’s one-two punch on the perimeter, senior guard Jada Frazier and junior guard Brittany Helm.The Privateers’ duo is combining to average 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists per game.Hightower said despite UNO probably not being as highly rated as some of LSU’s recent opponents, the Lady Tigers know they will have to play well to earn a road win against an in-state opponent.”Winning there is very important,” she said. “We have to stay focused and stay on track. UNO is going to play their best. [They will] play hard, so we have to match that.”—-Contact Casey Gisclair a [email protected]