LSU Lady Tigers continue to roll; Brady fired

LSU men’s and women’s basketball programs continue to go in different directions this season.

The No. 8 Lady Tigers (20-3 overall, 9-0 in the SEC) won their 11th consecutive game by topping No. 24 Georgia at home on Sunday, 63-57. Meanwhile, the men’s squad fell to No. 7 Tennessee on Saturday at home, 47-45, one day after LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman relieved head coach John Brady of his duties. The Tigers now stand at 8-14 overall and 1-7 in the conference. LSU has lost nine of its last 10 games.

“We thank John Brady for his years of service and the success he brought to the LSU basketball program during the course of his time here,” Bertman said. “He brought some great players to LSU and produced some very successful teams and those memories will forever be written in the history of LSU basketball.”

Brady came to LSU beginning with the 1997-98 season and posted a record of 192-139. In 11 years at the helm of the Tiger basketball program, Brady led LSU to three SEC Western Division titles (2000, 2005, 2006), two SEC Championships (2000, 2006), two NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances and a Final Four appearance in 2006. Four of his players earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors and three players were named SEC Player of the Year. He was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2006. Assistant coach Butch Pierre will coach the team on an interim basis for the rest of the season.

“It’s a sad situation because Coach Brady and I have been together for 11 years,” Pierre said. “Unfortunately in this business, sometimes things like this happen. The players understand and what I am trying to do with them now is make sure that they draw something positive out of all this.”

The Lady Tigers started their week by blowing out Alabama on the road, 89-53. In that contest, Sylvia Fowles scored 24 points and 11 rebounds. Quianna Chaney and Allison Hightower each contributed 11 points in the victory. Against Georgia, Fowles scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Chaney had 14 points and RoShonta LeBlanc added 14 points, six assists and three steals.

LSU will play at Tennessee on Thursday (6 p.m.) and then return home on Sunday for a 2 p.m. contest against Ole Miss.

The men’s squad fell to Alabama on the road, 82-71, on Saturday in the final game Brady coached for LSU. Against Tennessee, Chris Johnson scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Marcus Thornton added 12 points. The 47 points allowed were the lowest Tennessee had been held to all season.

LSU will play at Florida on Wednesday (7 p.m.) and return home for a noon contest on Saturday against Kentucky.

BASEBALL SUITE APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE

LSU has begun taking applications for suites in the New Alex Box Stadium, which is scheduled to open in the spring of 2009.

The deadline for applications for the 17 New Alex Box Stadium Suites in the new baseball facility is Friday, March 7.

LSU is building a new 8,800-seat baseball stadium on the corner of Nicholson Drive and Gourrier Avenue, about 200 yards south of the existing Alex Box Stadium. The most exclusive seating area will be the New Alex Box Stadium Suites, located on the press box level of the new facility.

Each suite at the New Alex Box Stadium will feature 12 seats in an outdoor seating area, two seats inside the suite with a view of the field, and two additional standing room only tickets. New Alex Box Stadium Suite holders will have the opportunity to purchase catered meals and drinks for each game. Suite holders will also receive a parking pass in an exclusive parking lot near the stadium and have the opportunity to purchase additional parking.

Admission to the New Alex Box Stadium Suites will require an annual donation of $35,000 per suite to the Tiger Athletic Foundation.

The donation will be in addition to and separate from the cost of the tickets. The cost of each ticket will be $350 per seat per season.

For more information about the suites, call (225) 578-0161.

PAIR OF LADY TIGERS HONORED

The 2007 Diamond Sports National Catcher of the Year, Killian Roessner, and First-Team All-Southeastern Conference selection Dani Hofer were two of 24 players named to the ESPN Preseason Softball All-America team.

A year after earning first-team NFCA All-America honors, Roessner was selected a first-team preseason All-American by ESPN. Hofer, an NFCA All-South Region selection, earned preseason second-team honors. The pair were two of eight players from the SEC named to the first and second teams. LSU is among five schools, including three SEC schools, that have multiple players on the list.

A first-team NFCA All-American and All-South Region selection, while also earning second-team All-SEC honors, Roessner was named the SEC Player of the Week once and Louisiana Hitter of the Week twice last season. The senior catcher broke the LSU single-season record and leads the SEC with 19 runners caught stealing, while allowing just 28 stolen bases on the year. She also tied for the league lead and the school single-season record with four runners picked off.

A first-team All-SEC selection and second-team NFCA All-South Region selection, Hofer was a two-time SEC Pitcher of the Week and a four-time Louisiana Pitcher of the Week last season. The junior from Safety Harbor, Fla., ranked 20th in the NCAA in earned run average as part of a Tiger pitching staff that ranked second in the nation in ERA.

The Tigers will open the season at home on Friday in the Easton Tiger Classic. LSU will begin play at 3:30 p.m. against St. John’s before taking on Ball State at 5:45 p.m.