LSU's Barrett earns SEC freshman honor

• Advocate news services
• Published: Jan 13, 2009 - UPDATED: 6:25 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — LSU forward LaSondra Barrett has been named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for her performance in the Lady Tigers’ victories over Arkansas and Alabama, the league office announced on Monday.

Barrett, a native of Jackson, Miss., averaged 18.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in leading the Lady Tigers to a 2-0 SEC start. The freshman poured in a career-high 27 points — 16 in the second half — on 12-of-18 shooting with eight boards in LSU’s 62-42 victory at Arkansas on Jan. 8.

The 27 points set the school record for most points by an LSU true freshman in an SEC regular season game, let alone an SEC debut. Barrett’s 27 were also the most points by an LSU freshman in any game since Seimone Augustus dropped 27 in her collegiate debut at Arizona on Nov. 22, 2002.

Barrett’s point total was the best by a freshman player in the SEC this season and tied for the seventh most points in a game by any player in the league to date.

Barrett followed that performance up with her third straight double-figure scoring game against Alabama on Sunday as she finished with 10 points and six rebounds. For the season, she ranks second on the team in scoring with 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Southland honors Bathie

FRISCO, Texas — Nicholls State forward Ryan Bathie has been named the Southland Conference men’s basketball player of the week, the league office announced Monday.

Bathie averaged 19.0 points, shooting 80.0 percent (16-20) from the floor in victories over Southern-New Orleans and Northwestern State.

The 6-foot-6 senior from Melton, Australia, scored 18 points and turned in his second-best shooting performance of the year, sinking 9-of-11 in Nicholls’ 80-56 win over Southern-New Orleans, Jan. 5, that gave the Colonels their first non-conference winning record since 1993-94. Bathie was the Colonels’ leading scorer and rebounder in the win over Northwestern State on Saturday with 20 points and seven rebounds, recording his first 20-point game of the season. He also recorded three assists and grabbed two steals against the Demons, part of the team’s season-best 20 in the game.

Honorable mention this week goes to Lamar guard Kenny Dawkins and Texas State guard Brandon Bush. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland men’s basketball sports information directors.

Each school’s SID nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player.

UNO defeats Loyola, 77-56

NEW ORLEANS — Kyndall Dykes had 23 points on 10-for-15 shooting as New Orleans cruised past Loyola-New Orleans on Monday at Lakefront Arena.