Women’s Basketball: WKU downs LA Tech, 61-55

RUSTON, La. – Western Kentucky pulled down 21 offensive rebounds and made plays down the stretch to defeat Louisiana Tech 61-55 Friday night. at the Thomas Assembly Center in Conference USA action.

Tech (6-3, 1-2 C-USA) held its second straight league opponent to 61 points, but fell for the second consecutive game in large part due to another poor night offensively. The Lady Techsters hit just 35 percent (19-of-55) of its field goals, including just 6-of-23 from the three-point line, in the loss.

It was the lack of success on the defensive glass and some untimely fourth quarter turnovers that ultimately cost the Lady Techsters in the loss.

“As poorly as we played offensively, we were hanging in there defensively getting stops, and then those three straight turnovers where we don’t get a shot and lead directly to buckets on the other end,” said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr.

WKU led 45-43 entering the final quarter, but started the stanza by missing its first 11 shots from the field. However, Tech only outscored the Topper 6-1 during that stretch.

Tech held a 49-46 lead with 5:31 to play in the game. Coming out of a media timeout, the Lady Techsters committed back-to-back-to-back turnovers on three straight possession that led to a 7-0 WKU run over the next 90 seconds as the Lady Toppers regained the momentum.

“I’m as disappointed in this effort tonight as I’ve been with this group all year,” said Stoehr. “It’s a challenge, and you’ve got to turn around again and play tomorrow. You have to ask yourself ‘Who do you want to be?’ Do you want to be the team that you were today or do you want to be the team that you are capable of being.”

WKU outrebounded Tech 49-38 in the game, including pulling down 21 offensive rebounds in the game. Fatou Pouye led WKU with 21 points and 13 rebounds while Meral Abdelgawad added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“I thought Pouye and Abdelgawad had their way with us on the boards,” said Stoehr. “We gave up 21 offensive rebounds to a team that was minus in the rebound margin all year. It was one area going into tonight that we thought we could do some damage. And we didn’t. We stood around and watched. I have to do a better job of preparing us.”

Brianna Harris came off the bench to lead Louisiana Tech, scoring 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting while adding six rebounds. Raizel Guinto scored 12 points, including four more three-pointers, while Keiunna Walker added 13 points.

“Bri was big for us there, especially scoring in the second half,” said Stoehr. “She competed there. We got her touches, and she delivered most of the night. She gave us a boost inside.”

Tech and WKU will play the second game of the series Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center.