Nov. 2, 2008
Box Score
RUSTON -- Sophomore Tarkeisha Wysinger scored 18 points to lead four Louisiana Tech players in double figures as the Lady Techsters defeated DT-3 76-67 Sunday afternoon at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Tech built a 40-22 halftime lead and increased its advantage to as many as 23 early in the second half before DT-3 rallied for the final margin of nine.
"I thought we came out in the first half with a lot of energy and intensity," said Tech head coach Chris Long. "We forced a lot of turnovers and converted them into points on the other end.
"In the second half we missed some easy looks, didn't make our free throws and all of a sudden the game got tighter. We have to learn to play consistently for 40 minutes. This will be a great film for us to break down, watch and learn from, and we will do that."
Tech forced 19 first half turnovers by DT-3 to build the halftime advantage. The Lady Techsters led 15-10 after a lay-up by Sheridan Arredondo at the 11:11 mark before a three-pointer by Tiawana Pringle started a 9-0 Tech run, giving it a 24-10 lead with less than seven minutes to play.
Another 9-0 run right before halftime sparked by a Wysinger driving layup and two free throws upped the Tech lead to 40-19 before DT-3's Tyesha Lowery nailed a three-pointer before the half to make the score 40-22.
Early in the second half it appeared Tech was ready to put the game away as a Whitney Jones jumper and an Adrienne Johnson layup gave the Lady Techsters their biggest lead of the game at 47-24 with 18:03 to play.
Tech led 60-40 midway through the second half before DT-3 began chipping away, using a 10-1 run over the next two minutes to cut the advantage to 61-50. The Lady Techsters pushed the advantage back out to as many at 18 at 73-55 before DT-3 ended the game on a 12-3 run.
After limiting DT-3 to only 32 percent shooting in the first half, Tech struggled defensively in the second half as DT-3 hit 55 percent (16-29) of its field goals.
"We will have to improve our post defense," Long said. "One of the answers to that is better pressure on the perimeter. We also can't afford to get into foul trouble in the post. (Shanavia) Dowdell can't only play 16 minutes. She is too important on both ends of the floor for us."
Dowdell scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds in those 16 minutes while Jones added 14 points and Johnson chipped in with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Tech shot only 38 percent (28-74) from the field, including only 2-of-10 from the three-point line. The Lady Techsters also struggled from the free throw line hitting only 18-of-33.
A trio of freshman saw their first action for Tech as Jasmine Bendolph scored seven points in 28 minutes while Kiara Young added two points in one minute. DeAngela Sword didn't score while playing three minutes.
Lowery led DT-3 with 19 points.
Tech returns to action Thursday at 7 p.m. against Talladega College.
