Boxscore

RUSTON ? Louisiana Tech used a 23-7 run to start the second half to pull away and defeat Alabama 66-57 Saturday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Leading 28-26 at the half, the Lady Techsters (4-7) hit 9 of their first 11 shots of the second half to build an 18-point lead and hold off a late Crimson Tide rally for their second win over a Southeastern Conference team in four days.

?I don?t think any of our wins our ever going to be very pretty this year,? said Tech head coach Chris Long. ?We struggle too much offensively to ever be real pretty for 40 minutes. However, I thought defensively, we played about as well as we could have tonight. This team is getting better.?

Alabama (7-4) entered the game shooting 48 percent from the field for the season but a tenacious Tech man-to-man defense limited the Crimson Tide to only 33 percent (20-60) shooting in the game.

Long said the play of guard Amber Metoyer on Bama guard Navonda Moore was the key to Tech?s defensive success.

?I?ve seen (Navonda) Moore on film and I know what she is capable of,? Long said. ?I thought Amber was very physical with her, and I don?t think she liked that. As a team, we played very, very well defensively.?

Offensively, Tech saw all five starters score in double figures as Shan Moore led the way with 13 points, followed by Tamika Kursh with 12, and Metoyer, Ty Moore and Eboni Mangum with 11 each.

Tech shot 42 percent from the field for the game, including 48 percent (12-of-25) in the second half.

The Lady Techsters return to action Thursday when they host Rice at 7 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center.