The LSU women’s basketball team is excited to have a full, healthy roster for the start of the 2016-17 season.
The Lady Tigers begin the season exhibitioning against LeMoyne-Owen at 2 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the PMAC, but the most anticipated matchup is against UConn on Nov. 20.
LSU coach Nikki Fargas addressed the media at LSU’s annual in-house media day on Wednesday and held open practice that afternoon.
“The fact that we’re healthy, the fact that we’ve got players that are returning due to injuries or transfer rules and then being newcomers — that’s a practice that looks like a team that’s learning,” Fargas said.
The Lady Tigers were plagued by mishaps and injuries throughout the 2015-16 season.
Junior Jenna Deemer returns to LSU after sitting out because of an illness, Fargas confirmed. Junior Raigyne Moncrief and freshman Ayana Mitchell also reappear after being sidelined because of knee injuries.
Other returners are seniors Alexis Hyder, Rina Hill and Jasmine Rhodes and sophomore Shanice Norton.
However, the players aren’t letting last season bring them down as they’ve embraced new faces with different skill sets.
Sophomores Chloe Jackson and Tatum Neubert and freshmen Yasmine Bidikuindila, Faustine Aifuwa, Jaelyn Richard-Harris and Stephanie Self join the Lady Tigers.
Fargas said she loves having possibilities for switching the line up and being able to play “fast ball.”
“[Bidikuindila and Aifuwa] bring a presence in the paint, a low block presence that we haven’t had probably since Theresa Plaisance,” Fargas said. “We’re going to be able to play a little bit more man to man because we’re going to match up size wise … But those two in particular will allow us to play more of a power game.”
Fargas said she hasn’t named her starting five yet because she likes the competitiveness between the players. However, she mentioned having her eyes set on Moncrief, Hill and Hyder.
Mitchell said the team’s dynamic has changed from last season’s and it shows both on and off the court.
Additionally, the 2016-17 team has taken on a new acronym called H.U.S.H. — hungry, unified, selflessness and heart.
“We’re all together,” Mitchell said. “In practice you can tell when you’re going after loose balls or running an extra sprint with a teammate, it’s showing a lot of heart. This year is going to be different because we went through last year … It’s going to help us push through.”
As one of the Lady Tigers’ senior leaders, alongside Hyder and Hill, Rhodes said she was ready to step up and take a new approach: simply communicating. Fargas also mentioned opening more to her team.
“We have a lot of young people on the team and roster so hopefully we give them something to follow, and hopefully they continue to be leaders in whatever they do,” Rhodes said.