Lady Techsters handle FAU in return home, 64-49

RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team returned to Ruston in strong fashion over the Florida Atlantic Owls with a 64-49 win tonight inside the Thomas Assembly Center.

After FAU (5-15, 1-8 C-USA) took a 3-2 with 7:23 in the first quarter, junior Keiunna Walker scored eight quick points of her game-high 19 to lead LA Tech (12-8, 4-5 C-USA) on a 12-0 run over the next six minutes of the quarter racing to a 14-3 lead with 2:12 to play in the first.

In the second quarter with Tech up 24-12, Anna Larr Roberson used a personal 7-0 run fueling a 15-4 stretch for the Techsters over the next six minutes to build a 39-16 lead with 1:24 left in the half. Roberson finished the night with 16 points and four rebounds.

Tech used the comfort of the TAC to their advantage shooting a blistering 60.2 percent in the half on 18-29 shooting including hitting their only three-point attempt and both free-throws through the first 20 minutes.

Defensively Tech held FAU to just 26.5 percent shooting in route to a 19-point advantage at the break (39-20).

Tech increased their lead by the end of the third quarter to 22 and eventually stretched to their largest lead of the game at 26 (58-32) with 8:31 left in the game thanks to the all-around play of freshman guard Silvia Nativi.

Nativi finished the night with four points, pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds, and dished out a career-high seven assists.

Salma Bates and Robyn Lee each contributed nine points in the win which saw the Techsters outscore the Owls 48-16 in the paint.

Tech closed out the contest getting some valuable conference experience for some players as 10 Techsters logged minutes in the fourth quarter leading to the 15-point win in front of the home faithful.

NOTABLES
• Louisiana Tech is now 8-2 all-time versus Florida Atlantic and now 4-0 in games played in Ruston.
• Keiunna Walker has now scored in double-figures in 21 straight games and is one of three players in C-USA to have scored in double-figures in every game this season (Savannah Wheeler- Marshall and Zakyia Weathersby – UAB).
• Walker also took her 23rd charge of the season and 103rd charge of her career.
• Silvia Nativi registered two career-highs tonight in rebounds (11) and assists (7).
• Anna Larr Roberson has now scored in double figures in 13 straight games this season.
• Roberson, the conference USA leader in free-throw percentage (0.85), now has a current streak of 21 straight makes.
• Tech is now 10-2 when out rebounding their opponents beating FAU 43-31 on the glass.

UP NEXT
The Lady Techsters will continue their home stand Saturday Feb. 5, at 2:00 p.m. inside the Thomas Assembly Center for a conference USA matchup against Florida International.

The Techsters will be celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day and will also honor Coach Kay Yow in the annual #Play4Kay Pink Out game.

All girls and women will get in the game for free.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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