Women’s Hoops: UTEP downs LA Tech, 75-67

RUSTON, La. – Anna Larr Roberson scored a career-high 20 points, but UTEP used a strong second half to down Louisiana Tech 75-67 Saturday afternoon at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Tech (9-5, 4-4 C-USA) pushed its 35-28 halftime lead out to as many as 11 in the third quarter at 47-36, but the Miners (8-5, 5-3 C-USA) hit 12 straight shots from the field during a 28-8 run and hit late free throws to seal the win.

“UTEP executed really, really well,” said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. “When it got gut-check time, their kids really rose to the challenge. The out-executed us. We didn’t defend very well. We got beaten on a simple down screen several times.

“We couldn’t answer on the other end. We couldn’t get stops during that stretch. We called timeout. Talk about it. They continue on the run. Bottom line is we have to be tougher. We have to be tougher defensively. Your in your own house and we got out rebounded by 18 this weekend in two games. You just can’t do that.”

Tech entered the game as one of the top defensive teams in Conference USA and had held its C-USA opponents to 61 points or less in all seven games. The Lady Techsters appeared on their way to accomplishing that for an 8th straight game, but the Miners shot 75 percent (15-of-20) from the field in the second half and outscored the Lady Techsters 47-32 over the final 20 minutes.

“Their kids made some tough shots, but we also let them get going,” said Stoehr. “At that point, you have to do something to disrupt. You have to change something. I just didn’t think we adjusted very well. We have to be better. It’s disappointing and we had every opportunity to close that one out. We just couldn’t get stops in that third quarter and fourth quarter.”

UTEP built a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter before the Lady Techsters closed the gap to 67-65 with just over a minute to play in the game. After UTEP missed two free throws, the Lady Techsters had an opportunity to tie or take the lead but committed a turnover.

After the two teams traded buckets to put the UTEP lead at 69-67 with 35 seconds to play, Tech was forced to foul and the Miners hit 6-of-6 free throws down the stretch.

Roberson hit 8-of-10 field goals and 4-of-4 at the free throw line.

“She answered the call and responded,” said Stoehr. “But on the defensive end we struggled. We struggled to guard their bigs. They went four guards and we didn’t have an answer. We have to be tougher. We have to be tough-minded to communicate and get through those screens and make sure we are rotating and getting out to shooters. Credit their kids. They hit some big shots and big threes during that run. We just didn’t answer.”

Raizel Guinto and Amber Dixon each added 10 points in the loss.

UTEP outrebounded Tech 29-19 while shooting 54 percent from the field for the game.