LSU-Marist Preview

3/24/2008 12:20 PM

By CHRIS ALTRUDA
STATS Editor

Last year, Marist was busy making a name for itself with a pair of upsets in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. This year, the Red Foxes are trying to keep that name among the elite with a return trip to the round of 16.

But seventh-seeded Marist will have to overcome an LSU squad that sports the Southeastern Conference player of the year in Sylvia Fowles and a home-court advantage Monday when the teams play in the second round at Baton Rouge, La.

The Red Foxes (32-2) worked hard to extend their winning streak to 22, closing out their first-round 76-57 victory over No. 10 seed DePaul with a 32-2 tear over the final 12:41. Rachel Fitz made 10 of 13 shots and finished with 23 points, and Julianne Viani added 16 of her 18 in the second half for Marist, which shot 58 percent (15-for-26) in outscoring DePaul 45-20 the final 20 minutes.

"Being down 13 didn't look very good, but obviously Julianne shot us back into it, and Rachele just kept doing her thing that made her a MAAC player of the year,'' Marist coach Brian Giorgis said.

As a 13 seed in 2007, the Red Foxes upset Ohio State in the first round and then defeated Middle Tennessee State to reach the regional semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion Tennessee. Fitz, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference player of the year, is averaging 18.8 points and shooting 56.0 percent.

The 6-foot sophomore forward and 6-3 senior Meg Dahlman, though, will have a strong challenge in trying to contain Fowles, who is averaging 17.2 points and 9.8 rebounds for second-seeded LSU (28-5). The 6-6 center barely broke a sweat as the Tigers shut down Jackson State 66-32 in the first round, totaling 16 points, seven rebounds and six steals in just 23 minutes.

LSU allowed just 11 first-half points and 12 baskets overall, forcing 25 turnovers and outrebounding the Southwestern Athletic Conference champions 45-29. Mesha Williams added 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Tigers, who have won 10 consecutive first-round NCAA tournament games and are seeking a third consecutive Final Four appearance.

"This is the best defensive basketball team I've ever seen,'' said first-year LSU coach Van Chancellor.

LSU is 13-1 at home, outscoring opponents by more than 25 points per game (70.9-45.7) and limiting teams to 32.9 percent shooting there, including 24.2 percent from 3-point range. Its only defeat came to No. 1 Connecticut on Feb. 25.

The Tigers have reached the round of 16 or better five straight years since a 69-58 second-round loss to Colorado in 2002.

This is the first meeting between the teams. The winner will play either third-seeded Oklahoma State or No. 11 seed Florida State in the regional semifinals at New Orleans on Saturday.