Kodak All-Americans

When a program’s won 1,139 games, participated in 31 national postseason tournaments including 27 NCAA Tournaments, advanced to 13 Final Fours, competed in eight national championship games and won three national titles, then it’s been fortunate enough to recruit some of the top players in the history of the women’s game. That’s just what Louisiana Tech has accomplished.

Over the 46 years of Lady Techster basketball, the Memorial Gym and Thomas Assembly Center crowds have watched 11 Kodak AllAmericans suit up in the Columbia blue and red Tech uniform. The names ring like a who’s who in the history of the game - Pam Kelly, Angela Turner, Janice Lawrence, Pam Gant, Teresa Weatherspoon, Nora Lewis, Venus Lacy, Vickie Johnson, Debra Williams, Amanda Wilson and Tamicha Jackson.

Four of those individuals - Kelly, Lawrence, Weatherspoon and Johnson - have won the award multiple times thus Tech can claim 16 Kodak All-Americans.

PAM KELLY

(1978-82) Kodak Year(s): 1980, 1981, 1982

When people think about some of the most dominating post players in the history of women’s basketball, Louisiana Tech’s Pam Kelly has to be near the top of the list. Despite the fact Kelly was a mere 6-foot tall, the Columbia, La., native recorded one of the most remarkable careers in Lady Techster history. Tech’s only three-time Kodak All-America honoree first ever recipient, Kelly led Tech to two national championships - the 1980-81 AIAW title and the 1981-82 NCAA title. During her four year career, the 1982 Wade Trophy winner scored an incredible 2,979 points and grabbed 1,511 rebounds while leading the Lady Techsters to a 143-10 record - the most wins ever over a four-year period in the history of the program. Almost 20 years after Kelly’s playing days ended, she still ranks No. 1 in scoring, No. 1 in rebounding, No. 1 in field goals made (1,193), No.1 in free throws made (593), No. 2 in scoring average (19.5) and No. 7 in steals (274). Kelly - whose number is retired - was enshrined in the Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

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ANGELA TURNER

(1978-1982) Kodak Year(s): 1982

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Known affectionately as A.T. by all Lady Techster fans, the sharp-shooting Angela Turner is still considered today as one of the best allaround players in the history of Tech basketball. A key component to Tech’s early success in women’s basketball, Turner helped lead the Lady Techsters to four straight Final Fours and two national championship titles - the 1981 AIAW and the 1982 NCAA. The Saline, La., native started from day one at Tech, averaging 16.0 points and 6.5 rebounds her freshman season, earning her the Louisiana Most Valuable Player award. Her sophomore year was even more impressive as Turner scored 817 points, which still stands No. 2 in the Tech record books for most points in a single season. Turner, who earned her Kodak AllAmerican award her senior season as Tech won its second straight national championship title, exemplified the term studentathlete as she also garnered an NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship. Today, Turner is the only Lady Techster to rank in the Top 10 in points (No. 3 with 2,262), rebounds (No. 6 with 1,073), assists (No. 8 with 466) and steals (No. 3 with 358). She also ranks No. 2 in field goals made (1,021). Her No. 5 jersey has been retired at Tech.

JANICE LAWRENCE

(1980-1984) Kodak Year(s): 1983, 1984

Many people argue that Janice Lawrence is the greatest player in Louisiana Tech Lady Techster history - an argument that has plenty of factual support. The 6-foot, 3-inch center dominated women’s basketball during her four years at Tech, leading the Lady Techsters to a 136-6 record from 1980 through 1984. Even with her size, Lawrence possessed the ability to shot the 15-footer or put the ball and the floor and go past a defender at any time. The Lucedale, Miss., native participated in four Final Fours and won two national championships during her career while earning almost every individual honor imaginable. Lawrence earned her first Kodak All-American honor following a junior season that saw her average 20.8 points a game. However, that was just the beginning of her accolades. After her senior year, Lawrence earned Kodak All-American honors, and won the Wade Trophy and the Champion Player of the Year award. Today, Lawrence ranks No. 2 in points (2,403), No. 3 in scoring average (17.8), No. 5 in rebounds (1,097), No. 4 in blocked shots (189) and No. 5 in steals (291). Lawrence proceeded to win a gold medal in the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles before playing for three seasons with the WNBA’s Cleveland Rockers. Lawrence, whose jersey has been retired at Tech, was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in July of 2005 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

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PAM GANT

(1982-85) Kodak Year(s): 1985

Without a doubt the deadliest outside shooter in the history of Lady Techster basketball is Pam Gant. The 5-foot-7-inch guard lettered at Tech from 1982 through 1985 and unfortu22 nately played prior to the NCAA’s adoption of the three-point line in women’s basketball. Her outside shooting prowess was known across the nation as Gant connected on an incredible 54.6 percent of her field goal attempts during her four-year career, including an even more amazing 57.5 percent her junior and senior seasons. Gant played on three Final Four teams, including the 1981-82 NCAA National Championship team as a freshman. The Joliet, Illinois, native earned her Kodak All-American honor following the 1984-85 season, one in which Gant averaged 23.6 points a game - still a Louisiana Tech record. She recorded two games of 40-plus points during her career (second only to Sheila Ethridge’s three) including a career-best of 42 points in a win over Penn State and six games of 30-plus points. Gant currently ranks No. 12 in points (1,714), and No. 8 in steals (253).

(1984-1988) Kodak Year(s); 1987, 1988

Prior to her WNBA All-Star days with the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks, Teresa Weatherspoon recorded an allstar career with the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. A fearless leader on and off the court, Spoon exemplified the term emotional leader with a burning passion for the game. During Spoon’s playing days, Tech posted a 118-14 record and played in two national championship games. Spoon earned Kodak All-American honors her final two seasons and capped off her spectacular career by winning the 1988 National Championship and earning the Wade Trophy as the nation’s top women’s collegiate basketball player. Known more for her ball-handling and passing abilities than scoring, the Pineland, Texas, native saved her best performances for some of the nation’s top teams, recording a career high 17 assists against then nationally-ranked Louisiana-Monroe and 10 steals against then nationally-ranked UCLA. During her career, Spoon scored 1,087 points, recorded 958 assists and totaled 411 steals with the assists and steals still ranking No. 1 in the Tech record books. Spoon - whose number is retired - captured an Olympic gold medal in the 1988 games prior to becoming a four-time WNBA All-Star starter with the Liberty. She is an enshrined member of the Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame and will be enshrined in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

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NORA LEWIS

(1985-1989) Kodak Year(s): 1989

Nora Lewis’ Louisiana Tech career didn’t start out on the most positive note, but it sure ended on one. Midway through Lewis’ freshman season - one in which she was averaging 13.3 points and 7.1 rebounds - the forward suffered a season-ending knee injury and missed the remaining games. However, Lewis would not be deterred. The Peoria, Ill., native worked hard during the off-season and responded by averaging 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds her sophomore campaign before helping guide Tech to the 1988 national championship game her junior season. Lewis earned her Kodak All-American honors following an incredible senior season that saw her average a double-double with 18.3 points and 10.9 rebounds a contest. The 6-foot forward also earned All-American South Conference and All-Louisiana honors her final two seasons. Currently, Lewis ranks No. 10 in points (1,760), No. 6 in free throws made (377) and No. 7 in rebounds (1,071). Her No. 40 jersey is retired.

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VENUS LACY

(1987-1990) Kodak Year(s): 1990

One of the greatest players in the history of Louisiana Tech didn’t start out as a Lady Techster. After playing her freshman season at Old Dominion, Venus Lacy made the decision to transfer to Tech - a move that would pay off for both her and the Lady Techsters. A virtual unknown before her playing days in Ruston, Lacy turned into one of the greatest post players in the country in little time. The 6-foot, 4-inch post helped Tech capture its third national championship during her first season (the 1987-88 NCAA title), averaging 14.5 points and 9.2 rebounds. Her junior campaign Lacy earned the American South Conference and Louisiana Player of the Year honors scoring over 20 points a contest. However, her great career was capped off by earning Kodak All-American honors as well as USBWA and Champion National Player of the Year awards her following her senior season, one in which she averaged 24.2 points a game (still a Louisiana Tech record). The Chattanooga, Tenn., native finished her three-year Tech career ranking No. 4 in points (2,004), No. 1 in scoring average (20.0), No. 6 in field goals made (793), No. 4 in rebounds (1,125) and No. 7 in blocked shots (164). Lacy went on to win an Olympic gold medal in the 1996 games in Atlanta and played for two seasons with the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Her jersey is retired at Tech.

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VICKIE JOHNSON

(1993-96) Kodak Year(s): 1995, 1996

A two-time Kodak All-American (1995 and 1996), Johnson helped re-establish Louisiana Tech’s national prominence in the mid-90s after the Lady Techsters had suffered through two mediocre seasons in 1990 and 1991. Johnson was a four-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection during her playing days and earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year honors in 1995 and 1996. The Lady Techsters posted a 116-17 record during her four years including a trip to the national championship game in 1993-94. During her junior year, Johnson became only the second player since Pam Kelly to lead the team in scoring for three straight seasons. The Coushatta, La., native still remains in the Tech record books, ranking No. 5 in points (1,960), No. 9 in scoring average (15.0), No. 6 in field goals made (793). Johnson - whose jersey is retired - recently became only the seventh player in WNBA history to score 4,000 career points, and has played 12 seasons in the WNBA. She was enshrined in the Louisiana Tech HOF in 2007.

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DEBRA WILLIAMS

(1993-96) Kodak Year(s): 1996

Explosive. The perfect adjective to describe former Louisiana Tech great Debra Williams whose offensive moves became legendary around the Thomas Assembly Center during her playing days in the mid-90s. The 5-foot-8-inch guard was blessed with talent and used it to her benefit as she teamed with Vickie Johnson to form the best one-two punch in women’s basketball during the time. Williams could hurt the opponent in a number of ways as her feathery touch from the three-point line was almost as deadly as her ability to take her defender off the dribble. The Houston, Texas, native earned All-Sun Belt Conference accolades three times and capped off her career with the Kodak honor in 1996. Williams earned the most valuable player award at the 1995 Sun Belt Conference Tournament as well as the Midwest Regional Tournament. One of the top three-point threats in Tech history, Williams ended her playing days as the Lady Techsters all-time leader in treys. Currently, she ranks No. 11 in points (1,749), No. 3 in three-pointers made (136) and attempted (378), No. 7 in field goals attempted (1,574) and No. 10 in three-point field goal percentage (34.0). Williams played for the Portland Power of the American Basketball League until 1998 when the league folded.

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AMANDA WILSON

(1996-99) Kodak Year(s): 1999

If ever a player possessed self-confidence, Louisiana Tech’s Amanda Wilson was the one. After a stellar prep career at Shreveport’s Evangel High School, Wilson made the easy decision to sign with the Lady Techsters and make the 60-mile move to Ruston ... a move Tech fans were thrilled about. After averag-