Lacee Rodriguez is one of the hardest-working players on the women’s basketball team, earning plenty of attention lately for her impressive scoring. But today, we’re stepping off the court to get to know who she is.

Who is Lacee?

Lacee Rodriguez is from New Iberia, Louisiana, a small town that’s about a two-and-a-half hour drive from New Orleans. Rodriguez explains that even though her town is small, it’s known for its cuisine and has amazing food spots. “There’s a place called Le’s Superette, and there’s really good boiled seafood there,” she says. Rodgriguez also recommends visiting Legnon’s Boucherie. “They have different meats, and the place is very well known for its boudin,” she said.

Rodriguez played basketball for three years at New Iberia Senior High School before continuing her education at MATC, where she is currently pursuing her Associate of Arts degree. Rodgriguez plans to further her studies in kinesiology to become a physical therapist. She hopes to help athletes stay healthy and play their best. “I love sports, and if I eventually stop playing, I’ll still be involved,” she said.

During the offseason, Rodriguez enjoys playing open runs, which is basically streetball; she says that it helps her improve her skills as an athlete. On game days, she admits she still gets nervous, but she has found ways to manage those feelings. “I listen to music, and I recently started praying alone before we do team prayers,” she says. Rodriguez reminds herself often that she can only control what she can.

Surrounded by Positive People

Rodriguez’s high school coach, Christopher Johnson, encouraged her to play basketball: “I never played sports before until my sophomore year in high school, and I was pretty nervous,” she says. Rodriguez also credits her college freshman coach, Andrew Winston, for helping her gain confidence and learn more about the game.

As for the MATC coaching staff, Rodriguez is deeply grateful for how much her coaches and teammates believe in her. She says their support pushes her every day to accomplish things she never thought she could do on her own.

Advice for Freshmen Players

Rodgriguez has some advice for the freshmen. “One main thing I say is we make mistakes. No one plays perfectly ever, and that’s okay!” she says. She adds that all the team needs to do is play hard and give everything they have