Jan. 26, 2008

Box Score

LOGAN, Utah - Shanavia Dowdell and Jo Sneed each scored 17 points to lead Louisiana Tech to a 71-56 win over Utah State Saturday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

With the victory, Tech improved to 9-10 overall and 3-3 in Western Athletic Conference action while Utah State fell to 6-13 overall, 2-5 in league play.

Tech, which lost a hard-fought contest at Nevada Thursday night, recorded a stellar defensive performance, limiting Utah State to only 28 percent (17-60) shooting on the night.

"For one day of preparation, I thought we did a great job of defending," said Tech head coach Chris Long. "Utah State runs some good stuff and they have some quick guards who are great at coming off screens and attacking. We put them at the free throw line too many times, but overall I was really, really pleased."

Behind the long-range shooting of Dowdell, Nastassja Levingston and Tiawana Pringle, Tech opened a quick 15-6 lead with 14:21 to play after back-to-back three-pointers by Levingston.

Dowdell consistently knocked down 17, 18- and 19-foot jumpers against a sagging Utah State defense that was set on keeping Sneed from hurting them inside.

"We ran the same set three times to start the game and the second half," Long said. "We felt they would help off Shanavia at the high post and they did. She did a great job of knocking down those shots.

"Utah State also did a nice job of mixing up their defenses, and I felt like we really adjusted to them," Long said. "I feel that it's a sign that this young team is starting to grow up."

Utah State cut the Tech advantage to 29-25 before the Lady Techsters used an 8-2 run to close the half and entered the locker room leading 37-27. Sneed scored nine straight points late in the first half to help Tech hold onto that advantage.

"I like what I'm seeing from our kids as far as finding a way to get the ball inside," Long said. "We are doing a much better job of reversing the basketball and getting it inside."

After Utah State hit the first bucket of the second half, Tech responded and quickly pushed its advantage out to 52-34 on a pair of free throws by freshman Tarkeisha Wysinger at the 13:21 mark.

Wysinger scored 11 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and registered five assists for Tech in recording her third career double double.

Tech led 62-42 with 7:09 to play on a layup by Sneed before Utah State made a late running, closing the gap to 64-52 with 2:41 to play. However, Tech hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final two minutes to pull out the win.

For the game, the Lady Techsters hit 20-of-21 free throws.

Taylor Richard's led Utah State with 18 points while Danyelle Snelgro added 11.

Tech returns to action Saturday when it hosts Hawaii at 7 p.m.