When LSU senior guard Adrienne Webb is at her best, she leaves her opponents feeling much like victims of the arachnid trap that so appropriately sounds like her surname: helpless.
Webb has made quite the impact in her four years at LSU, during which she has only sat out two games. In 115 career games, Webb has averaged just under 10 points and more than three rebounds per game and earning a total of 88 assists, 62 steals and 24 blocks.
But Webb’s contribution to LSU transcends the stat sheet.
“[Webb] is trying to be a leader for this team,” said LSU coach Nikki Caldwell. “She is trying to do what we ask of her both offensively and defensively.”
She is a primary source of motivation for her fellow Lady Tigers, especially when she is hot from beyond the arc, where she is successful in more than a third of her attempts.
“When she is in sync, the rest of the team feeds off of her,” Caldwell said. “She brings a lot of energy to us.”
Webb had a wake-up call early in Southeastern Conference play this season in LSU’s match against Arkansas when she failed to get on the scoreboard for the first time since her freshman season.
In an attempt to help Webb bounce back from the performance, Caldwell suggested she make 400 shots outside of practice before LSU’s next game against Mississippi State.
“I set a goal for myself to get in the gym and set shots up for myself,” Webb said after the game. “… I just wanted to be more productive for my team and make us better.”
The extra practice worked. Webb poured in a career-high 28 points against the Bulldogs and didn’t look back, scoring in double digits in every game since.
With her notable career as a Lady Tiger quickly coming to an end, Webb reminisced about her time at LSU, citing last season’s victory against then-No. 6 Kentucky in the PMAC as her favorite memory.
With just eight games remaining in the regular season, she has put all of her focus on one objective: getting her team to the NCAA Tournament.
This could be somewhat of a lofty goal. ESPN’s latest projected bracket has the Lady Tigers on the bubble as one of the first four teams on the outside looking in.
Webb is determined to finish the season on her terms.
“[Being a senior] is extra motivation to the NCAA Tournament,” Webb said. “We want to finish the season strong, play well in the SEC Tournament and hopefully get a good seed so we can play here.”
Graduation is just beyond the horizon, but Webb has no intention of hanging up her sneakers. Instead, she intends on finding a new home where she can continue to play her favorite game.
“I want to go overseas and continue playing,” Webb said. “I hope to find a team so I can keep the sport that I have loved playing since I was a kid.”
“[Webb] is trying to be a leader for this team. She is trying to do what we ask of her both offensively and defensively.”
