RUSTON - Louisiana Tech is headed west, again.

After making numerous trips to the pacific time zone this year as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, the sixth-ranked Lady Techsters will head that way once again after downing Ohio State 74-61 before an estimated 5,500 fans at the Thomas Assembly Center Tuesday night.

The win sets up the eagerly awaited showdown with in-state school LSU in the West Regional Semifinal in Palo Alto, Calif., Sunday.

After a slow start against the Buckeyes (22-10), Tech hit high gear midway through the first half. Trailing 27-20 on a Kim Wilburn lay up at the 9:14 mark of the opening 20 minutes, Lady Techster head coach Kurt Budke called a 30-second timeout to gather his troops.

Whatever Budke said worked. Tech (31-2) proceeded to go on a 13-0 run and grab a 33-27 lead with 4:46 remaining and never trailed again. Despite 6 of 7 shooting by Ohio State in the first half, Tech held a 45-39 halftime lead thanks in large part to the play of junior guard Amber Obaze who scored all 17 of her points in the opening stanza.

"I thought Amber did a wonderful job in the first half of hitting key shots to keep us in the game," Budke said. "When we were down, she kept hitting big jumper after big jumper."

The Dallas, Texas, native, who hit 8 of 10 first half field goals, said she took what the Buckeye defense gave her.

"In the first half, we needed points so that is where I went," Obaze said. "The post wasn't open as much, and they were playing off of us so I did the role of scoring."

In the second half, it was the Tech post players that took over as Cheryl Ford and Trina Frierson combined to score 20 of the Lady Techsters 29 points. Ford ended the game with 25 points and 15 rebounds while Frierson added 18 points.

"Cheryl Ford showed you tonight why she is the MVP of our conference, and in my opinion, a Kodak All-American," Budke said. "I know she was a little discouraged Sunday night, but she bounced back."

Ford hit 8 of 11 field goals and 9 of 11 free throws while also recording three blocked shots.

"Tech scored easily early," said Ohio State head coach Jim Foster. "Obaze probably had a career first half, and that loosened up the inside. Ford is a great player. She's as good a post player I've played against in years."

DiDi Reynolds and Caity Matter led Ohio State with 16 points while Courtney Coleman added 12 points and 11 rebounds.