ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - Louisiana Tech is developing a reputation as a second half basketball team.

For the third straight contest the 17th ranked Lady Techsters turned up the heat in the second half, this time downing No. 25 New Mexico 67-54 before 9,692 fans at The Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Trailing 33-31 at the half, head coach Kurt Budke's squad used a stifling man to man defense and relentless inside attack to outscore the Lobos 36-21 for its fifth straight win over the season.

"I couldn't be prouder of this basketball team," said Budke, who saw his team outscore Stephen F. Austin and Nicholls State 97-41 in the second half of its last two wins. "I thought these kids came out focused and ready to play. We felt like if we could stay close in the first half that we could wear them down in the second half and that is exactly what happened."

Tech (7-2) quieted the boisterous New Mexico crowd for the entire second stanza, holding the Lobos to only 26 percent (9-35) for the half while consistently holding them to only one shot attempt.

"We really did a good job of blocking out in the second half and it kept them off balance," Budke said. "Our post players stepped up and proved that they are some of the best in the country. This was a tough environment for our kids and they came through."

Junior forward Trina Frierson scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while senior center Cheryl Ford added 13 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. The Lady Techsters pounded the offensive interior in the second half as Ford scored 11 of her 13 in the last 20 minutes while Frierson added nine of her 17.

Junior transfer Amisha Carter provided a spark off the bench, scoring 10 points and grabbing five rebounds in 17 minutes of action.

Trailing by twoTech opened the second half on a 18-6 run, taking a 49-39 lead at the 13:07 mark of the game on a putback by Carter of a Frierson miss. New Mexico would close the lead to eight on three separate occasions, the last at the 8:25 mark of the game. The Lady Techsters sealed the win with an 11-2 run and a commanding 64-47 advantage with less than three minutes remaining.

Jordan Adams led New Mexico with 19 points, while Chelsea Grear added 16 points and 10 boards.

Tech hit 43 percent (28-65) of their field goals while outrebounding the Lobos 50-41.

The Lady Techsters will return to action Jan. 4 at SMU at 8 p.m.