LSU Lady Tigers basketball

Infobox CBB Team
name = LSU Lady Tigers
logo =
logo_size = 150px
university = Louisiana State University
conference = Southeastern Conference
conference_short = SEC
division =
city = Baton Rouge
stateabb = LA
state = Louisiana
coach = Van Chancellor
tenure = 1st
arena = Pete Maravich Assembly Center
capacity = 13,472
nickname = Lady Tigers
color1 = Purple
color2 = Gold
hex1 = 461D7C
hex2 = FDD023
NCAAchampion =
NCAAfinalfour = 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
conference_tournament = 1991, 2003
conference_season = 2005, 2006, 2008

The LSU Lady Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I women's college basketball. The team is currently coached by Hall-of-Famer [ [http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=27830&SPID=2167&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=1207430 Van Chancellor - 2007 Naismith Hall of Fame Inductee] ] Van Chancellor [ [http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?&SPSID=28701&SPID=2167&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=860066&Q_SEASON=2007 Van Chancellor Bio @ LSUSports.net] ] and has enjoyed recent success, including five straight Final Four trips in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Past coaches include Barbara Swanner, Jinks Coleman, Hall-of-Famer Sue Gunter, and Pokey Chatman. They play their home games in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center located on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

History

The LSU women's basketball team started play in 1975 as the "Ben-Gals," with coach Jinks Coleman. In just their second season of play, the team made it to the AIAW national championship game before losing to top-ranked Delta State, 68-55. Coleman stepped down in the middle of the 1978-1979 season and was replaced by Barbara Swanner, who in turn led the team for three and a half seasons. The 1981-1982 season saw the NCAA become the governing body of collegiate women's basketball. LSU did not play in the first NCAA tournament.

Future Hall of Fame coach Sue Gunter was hired to replace Swanner. Gunter would lead the Lady Tigers for the next 22 seasons. Gunter led the Lady Tigers to 14 NCAA tournament appearances, including one Final Four in her last season as head coach. (Gunter was unable to be with the team during their run to the Final Four, as she was recovering from an illness and about to retire for health reasons, but was still the official head coach of the team.)

Pokey Chatman, who had played for Gunter in the late 1980s and early 1990s and served as an assistant coach since the end of her playing days, was hired to take over for Gunter. Chatman led the team to two more consecutive Final Four appearances and was highly regarded as coach. However, during the 2006-2007 season, just prior to the NCAA Tournament, Chatman resigned after allegations of improper conduct with a former player surfaced. She was replaced on an interim basis by longtime assistant Bob Starkey, who coached the team during the 2007 NCAA Tournament, leading them to a fourth consecutive Final Four. Van Chancellor was hired at the end of the season as a permanent replacement.

In his first year as coach, Chancellor led the Lady Tigers to the SEC regular season championship. The Lady Tigers were runner's up in the 2008 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament and made the Final Four for a fifth straight time.

Prominent Players

External links

* [http://www.lsusports.net LSUSports.net]

References