Techsters go wire-to-wire over FAU

RUSTON – Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team picked up a wire-to-wire win over Florida Atlantic at home Saturday afternoon, 68-56, thanks to a 22-point fourth quarter and a perfect night from the free throw line going 20-20.

Keiunna Walker scored a game-high 22 to go along with six rebounds and a season-high six assists, drew three charges, and hit all 10 of her free throws. Anna Larr Roberson added 16 points for the second straight game with five rebounds.

LA Tech (13-10, 6-7 C-USA) put together another good start to the game with a 9-2 run and held FAU (12-11, 5-9 C-USA) without a field goal over the first four minutes. Tech added an 8-3 run thanks to six early points from Amaya Brannon off the bench to build a 19-9 lead after one.

The Techsters did not let the break stop their momentum as they rattled off a 10-2 run to begin the second period to build their largest game lead at 18 points (29-11). The Owls quickly responded with an 11-2 run, and after a Gabbie Green three, added an 8-0 run to cut Tech’s halftime lead to seven (36-29).

In the third, FAU continued to chip away as Tech struggled to score, making it a one-point ball game before Tech got a stop and a bucket to finish the third stanza 46-43.

After FAU scored early to cut the lead back to one, Tech pushed for a 7-0 run capped off by a Lotte Sant three that moved her into No. 7 all-time in career-made threes to give the Techsters some breathing room, 53-45, with 4:53 remaining.