Vandebilt forward Plaisance commits to Lady Tigers

• By SCOTT HOTARD
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 6, 2009 - Page: 1C

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Theresa Plaisance’s recruitment began at birth.

She received her first college questionnaire when her mother opened a letter from the late Sue Gunter, who’d written to congratulate the new mom.

“I used to work her camps,” DoBee Plaisance said of Gunter, the face of LSU women’s basketball for 22 seasons.

Seventeen years later, Theresa Plaisance’s recruitment ended where it began.

The Vandebilt Catholic star announced she’ll wear purple and gold, becoming the first LSU commitment in the 2010 class. She can sign Nov. 11, the start of the early signing period.

“My heart is telling me this is where I need to be,” Theresa Plaisance said.

Back in mid-June, Plaisance, a 6-foot-5 forward who led Vandebilt Catholic to the Class 4A title game as a junior, narrowed her list of colleges to six.

Mom and daughter hit the road, visiting each of the finalists in the space of two weeks.

They visited DePaul, Purdue, Notre Dame and Oklahoma the first week. Then they visited Auburn and LSU.

“Just being me and my mom for two weeks,” Theresa Plaisance said, “it’s something I’ll look back on as one of my fondest memories. We’ve had a chance to really grow. We bonded.”

More memories await them.

DoBee Plaisance, a veteran coach from New Orleans who played at Southeastern Louisiana and the University of New Orleans in college, enters her second season at the helm of Nicholls State women’s basketball.

The Colonels have four games scheduled with LSU the next four years, two at home and two away.