Players

Lisa Burras

Year Inducted: 2004

Category: Players

Schools / Organizations:

(Chicago) Marshall High School

West-Ark Community College

Louisiana Tech University

WNBA:  Portland and Seattle

Biography:

Lisa Burras’ successful career started at (Chicago) Marshall High School where she helped the team to two IHSA Class AA state titles and a runner-up finish while earning IBCA Class AA all-state honors in 1993 and 1994. Burras was an all-tourney selection for the 1994 runner-up as she was second in the tournament in scoring with 63 points in 3 games, had 19 rebounds and 7 blocked shots and made 30 of 39 field goals. She had 24 points and 12 rebounds in the quarterfinals, 25 points in the semifinals and 14 in the title-game loss to (Glenview) Glenbrook South. She had the highest AA tournament career field goal percentage at 72 (36-for-50).

Her next stop was West-Ark Community College (now the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith) where as a freshman she led the way to a 35-0 record and national title. As a sophomore she was a Kodak All-American and Region II MVP as she averaged 22.1 points, 8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks a game for a 29-3 finisher. In two seasons she was the leader in scoring (1,481 points), rebounds (534) and blocks (121). 

From there Burras went to Louisiana Tech where she was all-Sun Belt Conference and all-Sun Belt tourney selection twice. She averaged 18.2 points and 9.5 rebounds as a junior and was Sun Belt MVP and an honorable mention Kodak and AP All-American for a 31-4 finisher. The Lady Techsters went 31-4 again the next year but reached the title game where they lost to Tennessee. Burras was a second-team AP and United States Baseball Writers Association selection, all-Sun Belt, NCAA regional Most Outstanding Player and all-regional pick. She finished her career 36th in scoring (1,134 points), fifth in career average (16.1) and had 28 double-doubles.

Burras was drafted fifth overall in the American Basketball League and played 13 games for Colorado before the league folded. She was taken in the first round of the WNBA expansion draft and averaged 6.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in six seasons with Portland and Seattle.