RUSTON - Saturday night was Senior Night at Louisiana Tech, but it was a freshman that literally stole the show.

First year point guard Tasha Crain recorded career-highs with 14 points and 10 steals to lead the sixth-ranked Lady Techsters (25-2, 17-0) to a 98-60 victory over Boise State (9-17, 6-10) before 3,125 fans at the Thomas Assembly Center.

The Kingsland, Ark., native fell just one steal shy of tying the Tech single game record of 11 set by Stacey Davis against Old Dominion Feb. 21, 1987. Crain, who said she wasn't aware of the record, said she feels much more comfortable in her new role as the starting point guard for Tech.

"At the beginning of the year, I didn't feel very comfortable," Crain said. "I was making a lot of freshmen mistakes. But my teammates have motivated me, and I'm out their hustling, trying to make them proud."

The 5-foot-7-inch speedster definitely made head coach Kurt Budke proud with her effort which also included five rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes of action.

"She was incredible tonight," said Budke of Crain, who took over the Tech starting point guard duties four games ago. "She has really, really come on, and I'm so proud of her. She has waited her time, and now it is her turn to be in the starting lineup."

Crain stole some of the spotlight from Tech's lone senior Cheryl Ford who was honored at halftime for her accomplishments during her four-year career. Ford responded by scoring 20 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and recording a career-high six blocks in 28 minutes of action.

"Tonight was a very special night," Ford said. "My career has gone by so fast. It was special to have Coach (Leon) Barmore back; it made me a little teary eyed. It really touched me when all my teammates brought me those gifts."

Ford was presented with a framed hand drawn portrait during a ceremony at halftime that included Budke and Barmore and numerous balloons and gifts by her teammates following the ceremony.

Leading 27-20 at the 9:10 mark of the first half, the Lady Techsters ended the opening stanza on a 22-11 run to grab a commanding 49-31 halftime advantage. Tech used a 14-0 run early in the second half to up the lead to 31 and put the game away.

Trina Frierson added 16 points, Amisha Carter and Amber Obaze 12 points and Erica Smith 11 points for Tech, which shot 62 percent (40-65) from the field for the game.

Abby Vaughan led Boise State with 14 points, while Camille Woodfield and Lynette Grondio added 13 points and Simone Grant chipped in with 10.

The win was the Lady Techsters 23rd in a row on the season.