Boxscore RUSTON ? Sophomore forward
Shanavia Dowdell scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead five players in double figures as Louisiana Tech downed Dillard 88-51 in exhibition action Monday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Head coach Chris Long said he saw plenty of positives during the contest but knows his team still has plenty of work to do before the Nov. 20 opener at Western Kentucky.
?We did some good things,? Long said. ?This is going to be a great tape to watch defensively. We definitely have some areas we have to improve in. There were times we rotated and stopped dribble penetration but then didn?t help the helper. It?s going to be a good film to break down. That?s what an exhibition game is for.?
Sophomore guard
Tiawana Pringle sparked the Techsters early in the game, scoring 12 of her 15 points in the opening six minutes of play as Tech built a 15-6 lead. Pringle, who struggled with the transition to college basketball as a freshman last year, also recorded seven assists and two steals in 29 minutes of action.
?Pringle continues to play better,? Long said. ?She?s really turned the corner. She?s gotten better but still has a ways to go. I?m pleased with her progress. She?s competing at a much higher level.?
Both teams struggled offensively in the opening 20 minutes as Tech built a 40-21 halftime advantage despite hitting only 34 percent (15-44) of its field goals. Dillard shot only 22 percent (8-37) in the opening half.
?It was hard to get into a rhythm as much as we were substituting,? Long said. ?I do think we have better perimeter shooters. It?s just going to take some time for our kids to get the game experience they need.
Whitney Jones and
Sidney Stewart are two great scorers who weren?t out there tonight.?
Tech, which outrebounded the smaller Dillard squad 55-42, found its shooting touch in the second half, hitting 54 percent of its field goals (21-39) while outscoring the Lady Blue Devils 48-30 over the final 20 minutes of action.
True freshmen
Adrienne Johnson and
Tarkeisha Wysinger combined to score 17 of their 23 points in the second half. Johnson ended the night with 13 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots while Wysinger added 10 points, four rebounds and two assists.
?Some of these freshmen are gong to be playmakers,? Long said. ?Johnson and Wysinger both played well. They are going to play a big role on this team.?
Senior forward Jo Sneed also topped double figures with 11 points and five rebounds.
LaPorsha Black led Dillard with 13 points while Joslyn Greenard added 11 points.
Tech returns to exhibition action Nov. 15 when it hosts a team comprised of former Lady Techster letterwinners in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Thomas Assembly Center.
