By Kevin Albarez, Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications
MIAMI — Louisiana Tech couldn’t find its rhythm in the second half, falling to FIU 68-51 on Saturday afternoon inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
The Lady Techsters dropped to 9-17 overall and 3-8 in Conference USA action, while the Panthers improved to 18-7 and remained in second place in the league at 9-2.
Tech shot just 29.4 percent (5-17) in the first quarter but forced FIU into seven turnovers and kept them off the offensive boards. The Lady Techsters held a 16-14 lead thanks to a buzzer-beater by Anja Bukvic.
Amaya Brannon’s three to open the second gave Tech a 19-16 lead early on. The Panthers would go on a 9-0 run in a two-minute span to regain the lead. The teams traded buckets the rest of the half, and FIU took a 31-26 advantage into the locker room.
FIU opened the third quarter on a 19-2 run, going 7-of-7 from the field, including 4-of-4 from long range. The Panthers would be in control the rest of the way.
Louisiana Tech finished 32.2 percent (19-59) from the field and 21.7 percent (5-23) from deep. FIU shot 45.6 percent (26-57) overall and 38.1 percent (8-21) from three.
Paris Guillory led the Techsters with 14 points, while Robyn Lee finished with nine and Brannon had eight.
Mya Kone had a double-double for the Panthers with 13 points and 18 rebounds. Courtney Prenger and Kaliah Henderson were the other FIU players in double figures with 13 and 11, respectively.