Lady Techsters’ hot shooting leads to 200th win for Stoehr

RUSTON – Louisiana Tech stepped on the gas early in the first quarter and didn’t let up in a 61-51 win over Jacksonville State on Thursday night at the Pete Mathews Coliseum, giving Brooke Stoehr her 200th career win as a head coach.

Louisiana Tech (9-14, 3-7) shot 57.1 (12-of-21) percent from the field in the first half and finished with 21 assists on 24 made baskets for the game. The Lady Techsters held a 28-18 advantage in the paint and 15-8 advantage off turnovers.

Jacksonville State (9-14, 4-7) was held to 9.5 percent (2-of-21) in the second and fourth quarters combined, finishing 30.4 percent (14-of-46) for the game.

The Gamecocks had no answer for Anna Larr Roberson, who had her way in the paint with 17 points and six rebounds.

Both teams started hot from the field, shooting over 50 percent in the first quarter. The Lady Techster defense stepped up in the second and forced the Gamecocks to just 1-of-12 from the field and seven turnovers. However, Jax State got to the free-throw line 10 times and kept the game close with eight makes.

Whenever LA Tech looked to be pulling away, Jax State would answer right back. Jianna Morris finally put the dagger in the Gamecocks with back-to-back threes in a 30-second span during the fourth that capped a 13-0 run by Tech.

Morris finished with 12 points, while Robyn Lee added 10. Silvia Nativi dished out a career-high 10 assists.

Madison McCoy was the only Gamecock in double figures with 10 points. Mya Barnes and Bre’Anna Rhodes grabbed seven boards apiece.

QUOTEABLES
Head Coach Brooke Stoehr

“I am very proud of this group for finishing off the fourth quarter and finding a way to get a road win. We needed this one tonight and it was a gritty defensive effort by this group. We challenged them at halftime to keep them off the free throw line and limit their offensive boards because that was how they were scoring. This group showed some toughness in areas we’ve struggled when we needed it most tonight down the stretch. We got stops and limited them to one shot and then came down and executed offensively.

Offensively, we moved the ball well and played through the paint. We have 21 assists and 24 made baskets, and the ball movement was solid. We didn’t settle for the first available shot and forced them to defend for more than one side or action. Anna Larr was big inside for us and our guards took what the defense gave them and made some good decisions with the basketball. Jianna hit a couple huge 3’s that stretched the lead and Sal had a big one out of a timeout that gave us a boast.

I’m proud of their effort and toughness tonight. We need to carry this over into Saturday’s game and find a way to get another road win.”

NOTABLES

Louisiana Tech moved to 2-0 all-time against Jacksonville State.
Tech hit five or more three-pointers for the 18th time this season.
The Lady Techsters have knocked down 155 threes on the season, the eighth most in a single season in program history, passing last year’s total of 154.
Nativi’s 10 assists were the most by a Lady Techster since Keiunna Walker had 10 against Rice on Feb. 24, 2022.
Nativi had four or more assists in 10 games, with seven games of five or more. She has 250 assists in her career.
Tech forced 20 or more turnovers for the fifth time this season and 13th game of 15+.

UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech wraps up the two-game road swing against FIU in Miami on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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