By Gabe Walker, Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications; featured photo by Gabe Walker
MIAMI, Fla. — The first-place Louisiana Trch Lady Techsters extended their Conference USA winning streak to six with a 74-59 victory over Florida International the Saturday afternoon.
Louisiana Tech improved to 13-5 overall and 6-1 in the conference. FIU dropped to 11-7 and 4-3.
The Lady Techsters jumped ahead with a 13-4 run into the first media, making five of their last seven shots. Seven LA Tech players poured into the scoring effort, giving Louisiana Tech a 19-12 lead heading into the second quarter. Sixteen of their 19 points came from the paint, only making one three. Paris Bradley dished a team high three assists while Jordan Marshallgrabbed four boards.
FIU fought back in the second, closing the gap to 23-19 midway through the quarter. Kaleigh Thompson would offer Louisiana Tech some cushion, scoring back to back tough layups to get the lead back to eight. The Panthers hunted from then on, closing the gap to one two separate times in the closing minutes. Paris Bradley’s second chance layup would close the scoring for the quarter, giving LA Tech a 35-32 lead heading into the locker rooms. Louisiana Tech only shot one free throw to FIU’s eight.
Louisiana Tech jumped out again, scoring the first four points of the quarter, but FIU stayed within striking distance, getting the score back to only a four point LA Tech lead heading into the first media timeout. Isla Airey’s and-one sparked a 5-0 run and another Paris Bradleyand-one ran the score up to 48-36, the largest lead of the game. Kaleigh Thompson’s last second layup closes the quarter 55-41, the largest lead of the game. Isla Airey scored a quarter high eight points in only four minutes.
LA Tech used the fourth quarter to keep the lead safe, ballooning it up to 20 midway through the quarter with a Jianna Morris three. Morris would pour in two more late, giving her nine points in the frame. The final minute would see now more scoring, ending in a 74-59 Lady Techsters victory.
The Lady Techsters defense held the top two scorers in the league in Atkins and Collins to 14 and 9 respectively. Kaleigh Thompson led Louisiana Tech in scoring and rebounding with 16 and eight. Joy Madison-Key dished out eight assists, the most by a Lady Techster this season.
This is the first time the Lady Techsters have won six games in a row during conference play since 2017.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Brooke Stoehr
I cannot say enough about the energy we had, especially on such a long trip. I thought we were locked in from the tip, especially with our third quarter defense. We challenged them at halftime and were able to keep their top scorers out of the game and forced them to turn it over. We needed a solid team defensive effort and I thought we got that tonight. We got some huge minutes off the bench from KT, Isla, and Joy that gave us a lot of momentum.
Looking ahead to the home-stand
We have a big week next week and need two big crouds in the TAC. This group is really fun to get to be around every day and are starting to come together, we need everyone to get behind them and give them a great home court advantage. We will enjoy this one and then figure out how we are going to get back to Ruston!
NOTABLES
- LA Tech had 22 assists on 32 baskets, their third time assisting 22 times this season.
- Jianna Morris made her first three-point basket in the fourth quarter, extending her streak to 23 games in a row with a triple.
- Paris Bradley scored 11, extending her streak to 10 games in a row in double-figure scoring.
- Joy Madison-Key had eight assists, the most by a Lady Techster this season.
- Kaleigh Thompson led LA Tech with 16 points and eight rebounds. It is the fourth game in a row the rebounding leader has grabbed eight boards.
- LA Tech is currently on a six-game win streak, winning five games by at least double-figures.
- Thompson’s 16 points and eight field goals both tie her season highs.
- Jianna Morris made three triples in the fourth quarter, extending her streak to 23 games in a row with a triple.
- Paris Bradley scored 11, her 10th game in a row in double-figures.
- Four Lady Techsters reached double-digit scoring.
- This is the first time the Lady Techsters have won six conference games in a row since the 2016-17 season.
UP NEXT
The Lady Techsters return home to face Kennesaw State at the TAC on Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+.