Balanced attack lifts Lady Techsters to 77-48 win over Nicholls State

RUSTON, La. – Four Lady Techsters scored in double-figures, led by 18 from junior Keiunna Walker, as the Louisiana Tech women’s basketball squad defeated Nicholls State 77-48 Monday night inside the Thomas Assembly Center.

The Lady Techsters improve to 3-1 on the season with the win, while Nicholls State falls to 2-3 overall with the loss.

A slow opening frame saw the Lady Techsters stretch the scoreboard on back-to-back three’s by sophomore Salma Bates. Bates’ threes ignited an 8-2 run, giving the Lady Techsters a 19-12 lead at the end of the first period.

The second quarter saw the Colonels and the Lady Techsters trade baskets early on. A trio of layups by sophomore’s Lotte Sant and Anna Larr Roberson and freshman Amaya Brannon, pushed the Lady Techsters lead to 33-23 at the break.

LA Tech held Nicholls State at bay, as the Lady Techsters forced seven turnovers to spark a 13-0 run, giving Tech a 46-23 lead with 7:59 left in the third quarter. The Colonels cut the deficit down to 50-35 with 3:16 left in the period, but back-to-back layups by Roberson and Brannon extended the Lady Techsters lead to 60-41 at the end of the third.

The Lady Techsters opened the fourth quarter with a 13-2 flurry as six different Lady Techsters scored to help give Tech as 73-43 advantage. Senior Jadona Davis closed out the scoring for Tech as the Lady Techsters claimed the victory 77-48.

NOTABLES
• LA Tech improves to 19-1 all-time against Nicholls State. The Lady Techsters are also a perfect 10-0 against the Colonels in Ruston.
• The Lady Techsters forced 29 Nicholls State turnovers, the 102nd times forcing 20 or more turnovers in a game since the 2010-11 season.
• Tech collected a season-high 20 steals against the Colonels. The 20 steals were the most steals in a game since collecting 20 steals at Fresno State on Jan. 13, 2011.
• Keiunna Walker scored a game-high 18 points, her 45th career game of scoring in double-figures.
• Salma Bates recorded a career-high 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting while adding five steals.
• Amaya Brannon scored a season-high 15 points and collected a season-high five steals.
• Anna Larr Roberson grabbed a team-high seven rebounds while also reaching double-figures with 12 points.
• The Lady Techsters out-rebounded the Colonels 39-33. It is the third time this season Tech has outrebounded their opponent.

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Brooke Stoehr
“I liked our energy and effort to start the third quarter. We were a little sloppy and loose in the first half. I am really proud of the way the group competed in the second half. We have to be consistent with our concentration for 40 minutes. We will continue to focus on sustaining that effort and consistency with this young group early in the season. I was very pleased with Salma Bates on the offensive end, Amaya Brannon’s on both ends and Keiunna’s ball pressure was really big for us. We have to continue to grow and get better, so we will get back to work tomorrow and continue to work on things as we head into a pair of tough matchups against Boise State and Colorado.”

UP NEXT
The Lady Techsters will travel to Boulder, Colo. to take part in the Colorado Thanksgiving Classic. The Lady Techsters will square off with Boise State on Friday at 3 p.m. CT before matching up with Colorado on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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