April 3, 2010

THIBODAUX, La. - Junior Ricshanda Bickham was named All-LSWA First Team and Newcomer of the Year, while freshman Alisha Allen garnered Freshman of the Year honors, announced the organization on Friday afternoon.

Bickham, an All-Southland Second Team selection, finished her campaign with an 18.8 points/game average, and was fifth in the nation with a 3.5 steals/game average. The New Orleans, La. native also was seventh in the Southland in assists (3.6/game) and in 3-point field goals made (51), while also finishing ninth in field goal percentage (36.9 percent).

Bickham also set the single-season steals record with 95 steals, and was one of few select players nationally to have 90-plus steals and assists in the 2009-10 season.

Allen, along with Bickham, became the first women's basketball players to earn special awards from the LSWA. Allen was one of two freshman in the Southland's Top-10 in scoring with her 13.7 points per game average. She also was in double figures 23 games this season, and notched two double-doubles.

"I'm very proud of Ricshanda Bickham and Alisha Allen for winning these awards from the LSWA, and with them returning next year, we are on the right track," said Head Coach DoBee Plaisance.

The release from the organization is below.

NATCHITOCHES - After having led her LSU Lady Tiger basketball team in scoring and rebounding while ending her career as the 13th all-time leading scorer in LSU history, Allison Hightower has been voted as the 2009-10 Louisiana Player of the Year, making her a repeat winner in the category.

Hightower edged out Louisiana Tech's Shanavia Dowdell by four first place votes in ballots submitted by university sports information directors and select members of the state's media.

Ricshanda Bickham and Alisha Allen, both of Nicholls, were named the state's Newcomer and Freshman of the Year, respectively, while Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton was named Coach of the Year.

Hightower averaged 18.2 points per game this season for the Lady Tigers as they advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She was a finalist for the State Farm All-America team, John Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and Lowe's Senior Class Award. She was also a unanimous All-SEC first team selection.

Dowdell joins Hightower on the first team along with Bickham, Tulane's Chassidy Brown, and Adrienne Johnson, also of Louisiana Tech.

Dowdell was named this year's WAC Player of the Year, earned first team All-WAC honors and was a member of the WAC All-Defensive team after averaging 18 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. She also led the nation with 22 double-double games. Dowdell led Tech back to the NCAA Tournament when she helped lead her team to the WAC tournament title.

Johnson was also a big part of Louisiana Tech's success this year as she earned first team All-WAC, WAC All-Defensive Team, and WAC All-Tournament Team honors. She averaged 16.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and was three times named the WAC Player of the Week and a two-time LSWA Player of the Week throughout the season.

Bickham led Nicholls in every major statistical category with the exception of rebounding. She averaged 18.8 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.5 steals per game and was named All-Southland Conference second team. Her steals average ranked fifth nationally.

Brown earned WBCA All-Region VI honors this season as well as being named second team All-Conference USA, Conference USA All-Defensive and All-Tournament Team. She averaged 13.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as she helped guide the Green Wave to the C-USA regular season and tournament titles, and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Allen earned freshman of the year honors after she averaged 13.7 points and 6.0 rebounds a game for the Lady Colonels. She scored in double figures 23 times this season and ranked second in rebounding in the SLC among all freshmen.

Stockton was voted as the state's coach of the year after she guided Tulane to a 26-7 record and a Conference USA regular season and tournament title as he team earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. After overcoming several early season injuries where key players were lost for several games, she adjusted her team's type of play as they went on to become one of the toughest defenses in the country.

Voted onto the second team were Brittany Powell of Xavier, Tillisha Givens of Louisiana College, Trenese Smith of Loyola, LaSondra Barrett of LSU, and Hannah Kador of Southern.

The third team was comprised of Tulane's Danielle Nunn, Brittiany Houston of Northwestern State, ULL's Mercedes Johnson, UNO's Brittany Helm, and Sharday Cotton of LSU-Shreveport.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Allison Hightower, LSU
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Rickshanda Bickham, Nicholls
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Alisha Allen, Nicholls
COACH OF THE YEAR: Lisa Stockton, Tulane

FIRST TEAM
Allison Hightower, LSU
Shanavia Dowdell, Louisiana Tech
Chassidy Brown, Tulane

Ricshanda Bickham, Nicholls
Adrienne Johnson, Louisiana Tech

SECOND TEAM
Brittany Powell, Xavier
Tillisha Givens, Louisiana College
Trenese Smith, Loyola
LaSondra Barrett, LSU
Hannah Kador, Southern

THIRD TEAM
Danielle Nunn, Tulane
Brittiany Houston, Northwestern State
Mercedes Johnson, Louisiana-Lafayette
Brittany Helm, UNO
Sharday Cotton, LSU-Shreveport

HONORABLE MENTION: Kendra Wells, McNeese State; Alexis Green, Louisiana-Lafayette; Tiffany Aidoo, Tulane; Freda Allen, Southern; Trudy Armstead, Northwestern State; Katherine Graham, LSU; Alisha Allen, Nicholls.