In a vote by the league coaches, LSU junior guard Danielle Ballard earned All-Southeastern Conference First Team and All-SEC Defensive team honors, the SEC office announced Tuesday.
Ballard picked up her second selection the All-SEC Defensive Team after earning the honor in her freshman season in 2013. She became the 22nd player in LSU history to be named to the All-SEC First Team.
Despite starting her junior year with a 14-game suspension, Ballard led the Lady Tigers with 14.3 points and 7.2 boards per game. She is the only player to be ranked in the conference’s top 10 in four of the major five statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks) in SEC play.
Ballard ended the season by posting at least 10 points in the Lady Tigers’ final 12 games. She started her scoring streak by leading the Lady Tigers with 25 points to a 71-69, double-overtime victory against then-No. 15 Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., on Jan. 15.
Ballard became the 25th player in program history to tally more than 500 career rebounds and will start the SEC Tournament, which begins Wednesday, just 70 points away from notching 1,000 points in her LSU career.
The Lady Tigers secured the fourth seed and a double-bye with their 80-63 victory against then-No. 12 Texas A&M on Sunday. LSU will face either the Aggies, Florida or Auburn in a quarterfinal game at approximately 2:30 p.m. Friday in Little Rock, Ark.