Late run sends LA Tech to loss vs. North Texas

RUSTON, La. – North Texas used a 16-0 run over a four-minute stretch in the fourth quarter to blow open a close game and defeat Louisiana Tech 65-54 Thursday night in the Conference USA opener for both teams at the Thomas Assembly Center.

After a pair of Kierra Anthony free throws with 6:43 to play cut the North Texas lead to 47-45, freshman Charlene Shepherd scored eight of the Mean Green’s 16 points over the next four minutes to send NT to its first ever win in Ruston.

“I just told the team in the locker room it was very disappointing, especially on our home court,” said LA Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. “I thought they were the tougher team all around, and we don’t define toughness all the time as far as being physical. I thought they were mentally tougher.

“I am disappointed in our effort. I thought we were very poor offensively. Nineteen turnovers that led to 21 points. As poorly as we played we had chances. You can’t get these games back at home. They didn’t press us 94 feet. We were just soft in a lot of areas.”

Entering the game, opponents hadn’t been able to slow LA Tech guard Kierra Anthony or North Texas guard Terriell Bradley through non-conference play. However, on this night, both were finally slowed by an officiating crew.

Anthony ended the night with 19 points in only 22 minutes while Bradley scored 14 points in 27 minutes, but both sat critical minutes due to foul trouble. Anthony picked up her second foul with 2 seconds to play in the first quarter and sat the entire second quarter for Tech. Bradley played only half of the first half with two fouls.

“The best two players on the floor had to sit the bench,” said Stoehr. “I think Bradley played only 10 minutes in the first half and Kierra played seven. I think that set the tone for both groups.

But we can’t give up that many rebounds. I just thought they were tougher. They were tougher to rebounds. They were tougher to loose balls. You can’t do that at home and expect to win. We have to be better.”

With Anthony on the bench, Tech struggled to find any type of offensive rhythm against a tough North Texas defense. North Texas built a six-point lead in the second quarter before a late run closed the gap at the half to 26-24.

“We had seven straight possessions in the first half where we gave up an offensive rebounds and had five straight possessions on the other end where we turned it over,” said Stoehr. “It doesn’t matter who is on the floor if you are turning the ball over. You can’t score it. We can rebound a missed shot but we can’t rebound a turnover. We were fortunate to be down just two points at halftime.”

Tech opened the third quarter by scoring the first five points to grab a 29-26 lead, but the Lady Techsters weren’t able to maintain the lead as North Texas led 43-39 at the end of the third quarter. The two teams battled back and forth for the first three minutes of the fourth quarter before North Texas hit 7-of-8 field goals during its 16-0 run that put the game away.

North Texas outrebounded LA Tech 65-54, including 17 offensive rebounds.

Bradley led NT with 14 points while Anisha George added 12 points and Grace Goodhart and Shepherd each added 10 points.

Tech hosts Rice Saturday at 2 p.m.