Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications Gabe Walker contributed to this report; featured photo by Gabe Walker
An outstanding season for the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters ended with a 66-61 loss to Rice in the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament on Thursday night in Houston.
The Conference USA regular-season champion finished 26-7.
Rice improved to 29-5.
“I am incredibly grateful for this group and I do not want this to diminish what they have accomplished,” Louisiana Tech Head Coach Brooke Stoer said. “Incredible run, and to do it the way they did it in conference, a regular-season championship, 19 straight wins.
“I know this will fuel them. Really proud to coach this group and grateful for the time we had together. When we’re able to look back on this season there will be so much to be proud of what this group was able to accomplish and the journey they took us on this season.”
Louisiana Tech trailed by as many as 16 points in the third quarter. The Lady Techsters rallied and took a one-point lead in the fourth. The game was tied at 61 with 41seconds left, but the Owls scored the final five points.
Louisiana Tech led 13-11 after the first quarter. Rice started the second quarter with a
15-2 run for a 26-15 lead.
The Lady Techsters cut the deficit to seven, but another run gave the Owls a 33-19 lead and Louisiana Tech trailed 35-24 at the half.
Rice extended the lead to 48-32 with 4:19 left in the third quarter. The Lady Techsters then closed the quarter with a 14-2 run to get within 50-44.
The rally continued in the fourth. A Paris Bradley 3-pointer gave the Lady Techsters a 54-53 lead with 4:27 left to play.
The Owls regained the lead on a 3-pointer by Dominique Ennis with 3:10 left. A layup by Alexia Weaver tied it at 56 with 2:35 left.
Rice regained the lead on a 3-pointer by Louann Battison with 2:08 to play.
The Lady Techsters kept coming back and the game was tied at 61 with 41 seconds left.
Battison hit another 3 with 21 seconds left.bLouisiana Tech turned the ball over on a traveling call. Battison made two free throws with 9 seconds left for the final margin.
Bradley and Jianna Morris led Louisiana Tech with 17 and 15 points, respectively. Jordan Marshall scored 12.
Battison led Rice with 21. She was 5-of-13 from 3-point range. The Owls were 8-of-25 from behind the arc. Louisiana Tech was 5-of-18 with Bradley and Morris hitting two each.