Even before Western Kentucky’s Jasmine Johnson takes the floor today at Louisiana Tech, the freshman center was well acquainted with the long-standing rivalry between the two schools.

Johnson’s mother, Debra Rodman, played in the first meeting of the series on Dec. 3, 1983, scoring 16 points and adding 10 rebounds in an 82-50 Lady Techster win.

Twenty-six years later, Johnson is ready to help the Lady Toppers try to earn their fourth straight victory in the series and their second straight win in Ruston, La.

“I’ve been waiting on this day since I committed to Western Kentucky,” Johnson said. “She’s been telling me stories about how they won so many championships at Louisiana Tech, and ‘We’re good’ and ‘We’re this.’ I just want to prove to her wrong.”

Johnson said the talk has intensified the past few days, with mom reminding her about the Louisiana Tech victory in 1983.

“There are so many stories,” Johnson said. “She talked about it all (Friday) night.”

While Johnson said she isn’t sure what colors mom will be wearing Sunday, she is confident where her own allegiance will lie.

“She said she’ll always be a Lady Techster, but her daughter is a Lady Topper now,” Johnson said. “She knows what’s up. She’s going to be cheering for us (today.)”

While this season’s Louisiana Tech team isn’t as touted as the teams Rodman played for in the early ’80s, Lady Techster head coach Chris Long said he is pleased with his team’s 2-2 start.

“I like our team,” Long said. “We had a very tough injury to maybe our most complete player, Tarkeisha Wysinger, about two weeks ago. That had an impact on us early, but I really like our team. This is a young team, and it’s just going to get better and better as the season goes on.”

WKU coach Mary Taylor Cowles said this edition of Louisiana Tech shares many traits with previous Lady Techster clubs.

“They are just a great basketball team,” Cowles said. “They are very good basketball team that knows how to penetrate. I think they wrote the book when it comes to rebounding, especially at the offensive end. They might be the best rebounding team we face all year.”

The Lady Techsters aren’t a very big team, with only three players 6-feet or taller. But it’s an athletic group that averages 51 rebounds a game, with three players averaging at least 12.5 points a game.

Sophomore guard Whitney Jones leads the way, averaging 15 points and eight rebounds, while junior forward Shanavia Dowdell is averaging a double-double with 13.5 points and 10.3 rebounds a night.

“They are very balanced and can score in different ways,” Cowles said. “Jones can come off the dribble, but she can nail the 3. The duo inside, (Adrienne) Johnson and Dowdell, are tremendous. They can score in the block. They can penetrate in the high post and they can really go after you on the offensive glass. They are a smart basketball team that understands what they can do well.”

Louisiana Tech has been especially tough at home, winning both home games by a combined 98 points.

Still, Long expects the Lady Toppers to provide a much stiffer home test than Tech faced against Nicholls State and Central Arkansas.

“I think Western has a very good basketball team,” Long said. “Arnika Brown is the real deal. Nobody has kept her off the boards yet. She’s a special player, but they are not just a one-man team. Dominique Duck is the Sun Belt preseason player of the year. Kenzie Rich can stroke it. They have a good balance inside and outside.”

Today’s game comes less than 48 hours after WKU suffered an emotional 59-56 home loss to No. 12 Duke on Friday. Since emotions ran high during that game, and since WKU spent the first part of Saturday chartering a flight to Ruston, it’s easy to expect a letdown.

But Cowles said she doesn’t think that will be the case, adding this team is ready to put the previous game behind them.

“I’m glad we don’t have to wait for days to get back out on the floor and I know the girls feel the same way,” Cowles said.

Johnson is confident the Lady Toppers can bounce back, and in the process win some family bragging rights.

“I know my mom played there and they have a lot tradition up there, but I know if we come ready to play we can beat this team,” Johnson said. “Then I can come home and tell my mom my story about how we came to Louisiana Tech and won.”