TigerBait.com - Hightower sets pace in win

March 22, 2009

William Weathers
TigerBait.com Managing Editor

Just because LSU women's basketball coach Van Chancellor had been through the drill before didn't mean he liked any more the second time around.

For the second time in nearly a month Chancellor watched his standout Allison Hightower push herself past to the point of having to leave the court before the conclusion of a game because of severe leg cramps.

LSU's first test run of having to play extended minutes without Hightower came against Tennessee when the Lady Tigers wound up hanging on for a two-point Southeastern Conference home victory.

This time around, with the stakes significantly raised, LSU didn't have to sweat as much because of larger cushion but there was still plenty of angst down the stretch in the sixth-seeded Lady Tigers' 69-59 victory Sunday over No. 11 Green Bay in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

"We're playing Tennessee out here and Allison Hightower goes out," Chancellor recalled, having to play without his first-team All-SEC performer for the last nine minutes in a 63-61 win. "The coach had every negative thought a man could have in that game and we found a way to win. And when she went out I reminded them of that. I said guys hold on, we're going to win this game. We beat Tennessee without Allison Hightower at the end. We're going to win this game."

LSU (19-10) advanced to Tuesday's second-round contest against No. 3 Louisville at 8:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to the regional in Raleigh, N.C.

The Lady Tigers, trying to become the first program to qualify for six straight Final Fours, won their 11th straight opening-round tournament game and stopped a 21-game win streak by the Phoenix (29-4) in the process.

Hightower, who was unavailable to the media because of postgame treatment, scored 20 of her career-high 26 points in the opening half when LSU established a 35-25 halftime lead. Senior Kristen Morris recorded her first postseason double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds, while freshman LaSondra Barrett added 13 points.

LSU shot 50 percent in each half and became just the sixth team to score 60 or more points against Green Bay, the nation's leader in fewest points allowed at 50 per contest.

"Give LSU a lot of credit," Green Bay coach Matt Bollant said. "Earlier today, our radio guy asked me to compare (Allison) Hightower to someone in our league, and I kind of hesitated for awhile, thinking that there is no one in our league like her. She's special, and she was really special tonight. I thought she was a difference-maker."

Hightower outscored Green Bay by herself through the first 10 minutes of the game, scoring 13 of her team's 17 points. She scored six straight that included three free throws and a back-breaking 3-pointer before the shot clock expired.

"That's something we talked a lot about, the fact that she's not a great three-point shooter," Bollant said. "We have to play her off the dribble and keep her in front, but for her to make two threes early and to play with that kind of confidence I thought was a difference-maker tonight."

Andrea Kelly capped a 12-3 run with a wing jumper for a 23-14 advantage with 6:47 left in the half which Hightower added to with a steal and a three-point play after getting fouled on the drive. She finished the half with a pair of free throws and an off-balanced jumper.

"I think Allison did an excellent job," Morris said. "They were trying to guard her one-on-one and that wasn't the best idea. She did a great job in transition and got other players involved, as well."

It appeared Hightower, who had four rebounds, three assists and three steals, may make a run at Marie Ferdinand's school record with 34 points in a NCAA Tournament. Hightower opened the second half with a pair of free throws, a 17-footer and another basket in transition that resulted in a 49-30 lead. Barrett followed with a free throw ? giving the Lady Tigers their largest margin (50-30) of the game after opening the second half on a 15-5 run.

However, Hightower didn't score another point and LSU suddenly went cold from the field.

The Lady Tigers went four minutes without a basket until Morris' inside bucket to make it 54-40 and point guard Latear Eason later added a driving lay-up against the end of the shot block to maintain a 56-43 edge.

Morris added another field goal ? LSU's third since the 20-point lead ? with 2:36 to go but the Lady Tigers wound up stretching out their lead with 11-of-18 shooting from the free throw line ? including six straight from Barrett.

All of that came with Hightower watching from a far for the last 3:50 of the game while she tried frantically to loosen up on a stationary bike and drink plenty of liquids.

Turns out the Lady Tigers didn't need her again to finish the job.

"I should have subbed for her more and maybe cut down her minutes by two each half," Chancellor said of Hightower, who played 36 minutes. "But it's hard when you have a woman playing that well."

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