The LSU women’s basketball team will look to continue its dominance of in-state opponents under coach Van Chancellor in its regular-season opener this weekend.After the No. 9 Lady Tigers defeated Loyola by 35 points in an exhibition game Tuesday night, they will face Centenary on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the PMAC.In LSU’s eighth game last year, the Lady Tigers traveled to Shreveport and knocked off Centenary by 43 points, 74-31. But LSU senior guard Allison Hightower said the Lady Tigers have some work to do if they want to open 2009 with a victory.”We take nobody for granted,” Hightower said. “We are capable of playing much better.”Centenary finished 4-25 last season and ended on an eight-game losing streak.LSU is 9-0 against in-state opponents since Chancellor became coach in 2007 with an average margin of victory of 25 points.Chancellor said Tuesday the LSU defense has been a “trademark since forever,” and the team’s defensive output in the exhibition game was not where it needed to be.”We started three freshmen in the same game at this time last year, and we were much further along defensively,” Chancellor said. “Trademarks of LSU defense were nonexistent [Tuesday]. Don’t allow penetration. Don’t allow the open three. Don’t foul.”Sophomore forward LaSondra Barrett was one freshman who took the court for the first time in 2008. Barrett said the 2009 team is “still kind of young,” but the players have a better grasp on the team’s goals.”As far as experience, we have four returning starters,” Barrett said. “Getting more rebounds and playing defense is what [Chancellor] wants and what I expect of myself.”Barrett said it is essential for LSU to perform well defensively throughout the season.”Our defense is always going to be pretty good,” Barrett said. “It’s something we stress here, and coaches prepare us well for — we have a whole defensive conditioning program in the fall.”Chancellor highlighted the play of freshman guard Bianca Lutley against Loyola. The Plantation, Fla., native finished with two rebounds, two assists and one block in 10 minutes.”Bianca Lutley was better [Tuesday] than she has been at any time during practice,” Chancellor said. “Looks like to me she’s a light player. When you turn the lights on, she’s going to play.”Fellow freshman guard Adrienne Webb converted three 3-pointers in 17 minutes Tuesday in her first action as a Lady Tiger. Junior guard Taylor Booze drained two shots from behind the arc of her own in 10 minutes played. Fellow Trinity Valley Community College transfer Jasmine Nelson added five rebounds and eight points.Hightower led LSU in scoring against Loyola, accumulating 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting in 25 minutes played.Chancellor said he was pleased with the exhibition performance from some of LSU’s reserves.”I was really happy with that group,” Chancellor said. “I was really happy with the other group in the second half, but in the first half, we violated every defensive thing we’ve ever taught them here.”LSU was picked to finish second in the Southeastern Conference in the annual preseason coaches’ poll in October, and for the 11th time in program history, LSU is in the top 10 of the Associated Press preseason poll.In her final season as a Lady Tiger, Hightower, the 2010 SEC Preseason Player of the Year, said she is confident LSU will start playing like its No. 9 ranking.”[Tuesday] we didn’t play like [the No. 9 team],” Hightower said. “But we will pick it up.”- – – -Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]