HOUSTON - Seventh ranked Louisiana Tech (22-2, 14-0) played one of its most complete games of the season to down Rice 80-63 at Autry Court Thursday night.

The upped the Lady Techsters winning streak to 20 games and avenged last year's 57-56 loss to the Owls (10-12, 7-6) in the regular season.

Junior forward Trina Frierson scored a career high 28 points, senior center Cheryl Ford chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore guard Erica Smith added 15 points as Tech led from start to finish, ending Rice's 19-game home regular season conference winning streak.

"This might have been the best 35 minutes we played all year," said Tech head coach Kurt Budke. "Not only did we play a complete game, but we did it with Cheryl Ford on the bench for most of the first half and Amber Obaze struggling offensively."

Despite the fact that Ford and Obaze combined for only two first half points, Tech led Rice 40-21 at the break, thanks in large part to Frierson, Smith and junior guard Tamaka Clay. Those three combined for 34 of the Lady Techsters first half points.

Rice started the second half strong, closing the Tech advantage down to 44-33 with 15:38 remaining in the game on a jump shot by Elisa Inman. However, two straight Ford layups increased the lead back to 15 and Rice would get no closer than 13 the rest of the way.

Tech's largest lead was at 78-50 at the 5:00 mark of the game before Rice ended the contest on a 13-2 run.

Frierson scored 10 of Tech's first 12 points as the Lady Techsters jumped out to a 12-6 lead. Then it was Smith's turn as the Wheatley, Ark., native scored 11 of Tech's next 19 points as the Lady Techsters led 31-16 with 5:00 remaining in the first half.

"Both Erica and Trina came up big for us in the first half," Budke said. "Trina played big inside and Erica hit some tough, tough shots that gave us a nice advantage at the half."

The win clinches the outright 2003 Western Athletic Conference title for Tech, its 11th straight regular season conference title.

Kim Lawson led Rice with 16 points, while Johnetta Hayes added 12 and Inman 10.

Tech hit 49.2 percent (30-61) of its field goals, including 56 percent (14-25) in the second half while also outrebounding Rice 42-33.

The Lady Techsters return to action Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. when they travel to face Tulsa.