By Kevin Albarez, Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications; featured photo by Kevin Albarez
MIAMI — Paris Bradley had a career night, but that was not enough as Louisiana Tech fell to FIU 72-61 on Thursday night in the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
LA Tech (9-5, 2-1) got off to a fast start with a Jordan Marshall jumper and a Robyn Lee and-1 on their first two possessions of the game. FIU (6-8, 2-1) finally got on the board with a free throw at the eight-minute mark. The Lady Techsters would take an 11-4 lead heading into the first media timeout. The two teams would trade points the remainder of the quarter before a Panther three would make it 20-17 after one.
The Lady Techsters’ offense went cold in the second quarter and didn’t score for nearly six minutes. The Panthers would take advantage and take a 34-20 lead. Tech would cut the deficit slightly but go into the locker room down 40-29.
The freshmen duo of Bradley and Marshall wouldn’t let the Lady Techsters go down without a fight. The two combined for 25 of Tech’s 32 second-half points, with Lee adding five.
Tech cut the lead down to five on three occasions but didn’t get any closer.
The Techsters finished 21-56 for the game, 5-24 from deep, and 14-17 from the charity stripe. Bradley added a team-high six rebounds and three assists. Marshall and Lee were the only other Lady Techsters in double figures at 16 and 10, respectively.
FIU shot 29-53 from the field but just 4-16 from three and 10-15 from the line. Isnelle Natabou had a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Paris Atkins added 12, followed by Lucia Fleta Robles with 11 and Bineta Diatta with 10.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Brooke Stoehr
“We felt like going in to this game it would be a toughness game from the standpoint of keeping them out of the paint in transition or half court and keeping them off the boards. We didn’t do a good enough job in either of those areas tonight. We got off to a solid start and then struggled to score in the second quarter. We showed some fight and defended much better in the second half and got it to two possessions multiple times but couldn’t take advantage on a couple of possessions to cut it to one. It’s conference play on the road and there’s a small margin for error. We have to be able to turn the page quickly and regroup for a deep and talented Liberty team on Saturday.”
NOTABLES
- The six rebounds were also a career high for Paris Bradley.
- Jordan Marshall has scored 15 or more points in six games this season.
- Robyn Lee has scored in double figures in five consecutive games.
- Louisiana Tech forced their seventh opponent into 20+ turnovers, surpassing their total from all of last season.
- Louisiana Tech dropped to 17-4 all-time against FIU.
UP NEXT
The Lady Techsters will have a quick turnaround with a trip to Liberty on Saturday. LA Tech and the Lady Flames will tipoff at 1 p.m. CT in Liberty Arena on ESPN+.
