By Kevin Albarez, Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications; featured photo by Kevin Albarez
KENNESAW, Ga. — Louisiana Tech’s road woes continued as the Lady Techsters fell to Kennesaw State 79-72 on Thursday in the KSU Convention Center.
Louisiana Tech (13-10, 6-6 CUSA) got off to a slow start and didn’t score until two minutes into the game. Kennesaw State (9-14, 4-8) took advantage and jumped out to a 6-2 lead. However, the Lady Techsters would tie it up at 8 out of the first media timeout. The Owls would get six straight to regain the lead and hold an 18-12 advantage after the first quarter.
After a KSU layup to open the second, LA Tech would rely on their ability to get to the free throw line to cut into the lead. The Techsters would go 5-6 from the charity stripe during a 9-0 run to take the lead for the first time halfway through the stanza at 21-20.
The Owls came into the game shooting just 23.8 percent from long range but connected on three straight to gain a 31-24 lead. Tech would cut it to one, but an and-one with five seconds left allowed KSU to have a 35-31 lead heading into the locker room.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair up until the last minute. Melissa Mwanza cut it to a two-point deficit with a free throw before Robyn Lee tied it up with 34 seconds remaining. With six seconds left, Paris Bradleygrabbed a rebound and raced down the court for a layup just before the buzzer to give Tech a 51-49 lead.
Kennesaw State came out in the fourth and quickly regained the lead. Coach Stoehr called a timeout to stop the run, and the Techsters responded with six straight. However, the Owls used a 15-4 run to take the lead for good.
Bradley and Lee finished 7-9 from the field. Bradley scored 19, and Lee with 18. Jordan Marshall had a second-straight double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. LA Tech shot 46.2 percent from the field, 15.4 from deep, and 73.3 from the line.
Kennesaw State shot 49.2 percent from the floor, 58.3 from long range, and 60.9 from the free throw line. Carly Hooks and Keiara Griffin were the only Owls in double figures. Hooks finished with 21, and Griffin had 15.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Brooke Stoehr
“They were the tougher team tonight in the fourth to close it out. We didn’t get stops, gave up loose ball rebounds and back door cuts. It’s very difficult to win on the road when you give up 30 in a quarter. That’s discipline in the scout, toughness to make catches difficult and finishing possessions with a box out and rebound. You have to have the mindset to go take something on the road, and we did not have that tonight. It’s a quick turnaround and we have to find a way to defend and finish possessions with a rebound on Saturday to get a split.”
NOTABLES
- Paris Bradley has scored 17 or more in five straight games and double figure in 14 of the past 17 games.
- Bradley extended her consecutive games with an assist to 23.
- Marshall has seven double-doubles this season, the most by a Lady Techster since Anna Larr Roberson have nine in 2021-22.
- Bradley reached 300 points during her freshman campaign.
- Robyn Lee has 998 career points.
- Sydney Thomas reached 100 assists for her career.
- Louisiana Tech dropped to 1-1 all-time against Kennesaw State.
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech will close out the road trip when the Lady Techsters travel to Jacksonville State on Saturday. The game is set to tip off at 2:30 p.m. CT from the Pete Mathews Coliseum live on ESPN+.
