Mickles: LSU women looking for new leaders

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Oct 24, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — It hasn’t happened very often in all his years in women’s basketball, but Hall of Fame coach Van Chancellor has had times where players didn’t accept being team leaders.

“They did a great job being in a supporting role,” LSU’s second-year coach said, “but they weren’t leading actors or actresses.”

As he spoke those words at Southeastern Conference Media Days on Thursday, Chancellor glanced across the table at the two players — junior guard Allison Hightower and senior forward Kristen Morris — he’s counting on to fill that all-important role this season.

They’ll have to fill the shoes of some of the greatest players in Lady Tigers’ history, especially the ones that led LSU to an NCAA-tying five consecutive Women’s Final Four appearances.

Outstanding players and leaders like Seimone Augustus, Temeka Johnson and Sylvia Fowles.

“At some point, so to speak, it becomes your turn,” said Chancellor. “Now, it’s (Hightower’s and Morris’) turn. These two players, to this point, have done a great job of accepting it. They’re saying, ‘It’s our turn to keep this thing going.’”

Actually, they have no choice. LSU lost eight seniors who helped produce a 125-21 record and four Final Fours in their four seasons and replaced them with nine newcomers — including seven freshmen — to the program.

The best part, Chancellor said, is they’re doing it without even thinking about the pressure that often comes with the territory.

“I don’t think of it as pressure at all,” said Hightower, a shooting guard who averaged 7.1 points a game last year and 6.2 points as a freshman. “As long as I continue to work hard every day in practice, it should come out on the court. I just have to play to the best of my abilities, that’s all I can do.”

Likewise, Morris said she won’t feel the pressure.

“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity to come,” she said. “I’ve been embracing the opportunity and taking the rest of them under my wing. I don’t feel the pressure, I just want to go out and play and perform.”

Of course, both learned well from playing with Fowles and White the last couple of years.

“They’re amazing players, and to be able to play with them was a great privilege,” said Hightower. “Just learning from them last year and what they’ve done in the past has already helped me this year.”