Lady Techsters drop conference home opener to Southern Miss, 65-59

RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team fell to Southern Miss Sunday afternoon 65-59 in the Lady Techsters Conference USA home opener inside the Thomas Assembly Center.

The Lady Techsters fall to 8-6 on the year and 0-3 in Conference USA action, while Southern Miss improves to 9-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

Four Lady Techsters knocked down shots as they opened up the contest with an 8-2 run just four minutes into the game. Tech extended their lead out to 14-7 as junior Keiunna Walker made a pair of free throws, for her 1,000th career point. The Golden Eagles responded with six straight points, cutting the deficit down to 14-13 with 42 second remaining in the opening period. Walker drove the lane, finishing at the rim to give LA Tech a 16-13 lead after the first quarter.

Southern Miss took their first lead of the afternoon at 17-16, as Macy Weaver scored the first four points of the second period. Their lead did last long as sophomore Salma Bates dialed up a three and sophomore Anna Larr Roberson as well as senior Jadona Davis knocked down mid-range jumpers pushing the Lady Techsters lead out to 25-19 with 4:03 to play in the second quarter. The Golden Eagle answered with a 10-4 run of the own to even the score up at 29-29 as the teams headed into the locker room.

Similar to the opening period, the Lady Techsters used an 8-2 run to take a 37-31 advantage just three minutes into the quarter. The Golden Eagles once again responded with an 8-2 run of their own to level the score at 39-39 with 1:06 remaining in the frame. Walker beat the buzzer with another driving layup, giving Tech a 41-39 lead after three quarters of play.

Both teams traded baskets before a 10-0 surge by the Golden Eagles put them out in front 57-49 with 55 seconds remaining. With Tech forced to foul, Southern Miss knocked down eight of their last ten free throws to seal the 65-59 victory.

NOTABLES
• LA Tech falls to 10-11 all-time against Southern Miss and 8-5 in game played in Ruston.
• The Lady Techsters fall to 0-3 in conference play for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
• Keiunna Walker became the 43rd Lady Techster in program history to surpass the 1,000 career points plateau with 17 points.
• Walker tied her season-high by grabbing six rebounds, while also dishing out a team high five assists.
• Walker also took her 100th career charge this afternoon by drawing two charges against the Golden Eagles.
• Anna Larr Roberson recorded her fifth double-double of the season with a team-high 18 points and 15 rebounds. Roberson’s 15 rebounds also ties her season-high.
• Salma Bates reached double-figured for the fifth time this season with 12 points. Bates also dished out four assists for the Lady Techsters.
• The Lady Techsters outrebounded Southern Miss – who is the best rebounding team in the conference – 39-36.
• LA Tech recorded 18 assists, second most this season, on 23 made field goals this afternoon.

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Brooke Stoehr
“I thought we started the game and the third quarter well but we lost it there late in the fourth quarter. We fouled to much defensively in the fourth quarter that allowed them to shoot to many free throws. We didn’t turn the basketball over and we outrebounded them, but we put them on the free throw line too many times and couldn’t convert on the offensive end of the floor late in the game. We got a lot of good looking in transition but we had those stretches where it seemed like we couldn’t finish our shots. This team is young and we have to mature and grow from this.”

UP NEXT
The Lady Techsters hit the road for a match up at Southern Miss on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. inside the Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg, Miss.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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