# 1997–98 Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball team

The 1997–98 Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball team represented Louisiana Tech University during the 1997–98 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The team was led by head coach Leon Barmore, who guided the team to a 31–4 record and a runner-up finish at the 1998 NCAA tournament. This was the program's sixth appearance in the NCAA championship game. The team played their home games at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, Louisiana as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| Nov 21, 1997* | No. 2 | at No. 1 Tennessee | L 61–75 | 0–1 | Thompson-Boling Arena (16,490) Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Nov 24, 1997* | No. 2 | Texas–Arlington | W 83–38 | 1–1 | Thomas Assembly Center Ruston, Louisiana |
| Dec 6, 1997* | No. 4 | vs. Iowa Central Fidelity Invite | W 83–58 | 4–1 | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, Virginia |
| Dec 7, 1997* | No. 4 | vs. No. 2 Old Dominion Central Fidelity Invite | L 65–88 | 4–2 | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, Virginia |
| Dec 13, 1997* | No. 4 | Florida State | W 86–60 | 5–2 | Thomas Assembly Center Ruston, Louisiana |
| Jan 21, 1998* | No. 4 | Penn State | W 88–58 | 15–2 | Thomas Assembly Center Ruston, Louisiana |
| Jan 25, 1998 | No. 4 | at No. 16 Western Kentucky | L 86–88 | 15–3 (5–1) | E. A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, Kentucky |
| Feb 28, 1998 | No. 4 | at New Orleans | W 98–61 | 23–3 (13–1) | Lakefront Arena New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Sun Belt tournament ||||||
| Mar 5, 1998* | (1) No. 4 | (8) Texas-Pan American | W 92–56 | 24–3 | Thomas Assembly Center Ruston, Louisiana |
| Mar 6, 1998* | (1) No. 4 | (4) New Orleans | W 91–54 | 25–3 | Thomas Assembly Center Ruston, Louisiana |
| Mar 7, 1998* | (1) No. 4 | (2) No. 15 Western Kentucky | W 69–68 | 26–3 | Thomas Assembly Center Ruston, Louisiana |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| Mar 14, 1998* | (3 MW) No. 4 | (14 MW) Holy Cross First round | W 86–58 | 27–3 | Thomas Assembly Center Ruston, Louisiana |
| Mar 16, 1998* | (3 MW) No. 4 | (6 MW) No. 14 Clemson Second round | W 74–52 | 28–3 | Thomas Assembly Center Ruston, Louisiana |
| Mar 21, 1998* | (3 MW) No. 4 | vs. (2 MW) No. 11 Alabama Regional Semifinal – Sweet Sixteen | W 71–57 | 29–3 | Lubbock Municipal Coliseum Lubbock, Texas |
| Mar 23, 1998* | (3 MW) No. 4 | vs. (4 MW) No. 21 Purdue Regional Final – Elite Eight | W 72–65 | 30–3 | Lubbock Municipal Coliseum Lubbock, Texas |
| Mar 27, 1998* | (3 MW) No. 4 | vs. (4 E) No. 10 NC State National Semifinal – Final Four | W 84–65 | 31–3 | Kemper Arena (17,976) Kansas City, Missouri |
| Mar 29, 1998* | (3 MW) No. 4 | vs. (1 ME) No. 1 Tennessee National Championship | L 75–93 | 31–4 | Kemper Arena (17,976) Kansas City, Missouri |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. MW=Midwest. All times are in Central. ||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Final |
| AP | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Not released |
| Coaches | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
^Coaches did not release a Week 2 poll.