RUSTON, La. -- The state’s two remaining unbeaten women’s college basketball teams meet in a showdown at 7 p.m. CST Tuesday as the seventh-ranked LSU Lady Tigers put their Louisiana winning streak back on the line against Louisiana Tech at Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston.

The game will be carried live on the LSU Sports Radio Network in Baton Rouge on 107.3 FM. Live audio is also available to members of the Geaux Zone on www.LSUsports.net.

“This is their Super Bowl game of the year and we have to be ready to play for their best shot,” LSU head coach Van Chancellor said. “This is a really good basketball team that Louisiana Tech has. (Head coach) Teresa (Weatherspoon) has done a fantastic job. Their team has really adopted her personality. I coached against her as player when she was in college and in the pros. She has done a great job and instilled in them a winning attitude. We know they will come out and play with great passion and intensity. We just have to be ready for it.”

LSU (5-0) is off to its best start since 2006 and the Lady Tigers are aiming for a 6-0 mark for the first time since they won the first 14 games of the 2005 season. LSU pushed its in-state winning streak to 30 games last Wednesday after holding on to a 73-65 victory in overtime at Tulane.

Sophomore forward LaSondra Barrett, an All-Southeastern Conference preseason first team selection, poured in 22 points to carry LSU after the absence of senior guard Allison Hightower in the waning minutes due to leg cramps. Barrett scored seven in overtime and made 11 free throws on the night, the most by an LSU player since Temeka Johnson made 12 on Feb. 26, 2004 versus Ole Miss.

Junior guard Katherine Graham added 11 points and Hightower finished with 18 points despite her absence in overtime. Hightower practiced on Saturday and Sunday and she is expected to be full strength Tuesday night. She leads LSU in points (15.2 ppg) and steals (2.0 ppg).

Sophomore forward Courtney Jones injured her right ankle in the win over Tulane, but she is expected to be full strength as well. Jones also practiced on Saturday and Sunday.

LSU surrenders 45.4 points per contest while holding opponents to just 33.7 percent from the floor. The Lady Tigers average 76.8 points per game and shoot 43.4 percent from the floor. Defensively, LSU is tops in the SEC and forces 22.8 turnovers a game while holding a +11.4 rebounding margin.

The LSU-Louisiana Tech rivalry began in 1976. Though the Lady Techsters lead the series, 12-10, LSU has won the last four meetings between the two, including a 51-41 in Baton Rouge last season. The Lady Tigers are 2-6 in games played in Ruston, but LSU has won its last two games in Thomas Assembly Center. LSU defeated Louisiana Tech, 76-45, in its last meeting in Ruston in 2007.

Tuesday’s game has been selected as an “NCAA Pack The House” challenge at Thomas Assembly Center. It is an NCAA sponsored national competition where Division I member schools compete to increase attendance figures, gain national exposure, win great prizes and grow the sport of women's basketball.

Louisiana Tech (3-0) was projected to finish second in the Western Athletic Conference standings prior to the season. The Lady Techsters, under second-year head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, have outscored their three opponents a combined 249-150.

“Defensively, this is one of the best teams we will see,” Chancellor said. “They are hard-nosed team and they will get after you. They are a well-coached basketball team.” 

Tech is playing its first home game since defeating Centenary, 88-41, in its season-opener on Nov. 13. Their other two wins – both by double-digits – came on the road at Nicholls State and at Arkansas State.

Senior forward Shanavia Dowdell was the 2009 WAC Player of the Year and she was selected to repeat that title this season. Dowdell averages a double-double with 11.7 points and 10.0 board per contest.

“Dowdell, she can do it all,” Chancellor said. “She has a lot of talent. She can move and she’s athletic. She’s very long. It will be a great challenge for us. Their entire team is very athletic and quick.”

Dowdell is one of four Lady Techsters who post double-digits in points. Junior forward Adrienne Johnson is averaged 20.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.