Dec. 16, 2008

Box Score

BATON ROUGE -- Allison Hightower scored 13 points and LaSondra Barrett added 11 points and 12 rebounds to lead LSU to a 51-41 win over Louisiana Tech Monday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Despite a solid defensive effort, Tech (5-5) couldn't overcome a poor shooting night that saw the Lady Techsters hit only 27 percent (16-59) of their field goals, including an ice-cold 22 percent in a first half that saw LSU build a 15-point halftime advantage.

"I thought we were going to come in here and win this game," said Tech head coach Chris Long. "LSU really packed the paint defensively; they packed it as much as a team can, but they are also athletic enough to close out on your shooters when you kick it out.

"They are long. I thought early in the game we rushed some shots and didn't make them play defense. We took shots too quickly and we didn't hit them. We missed some wide open shots."

LSU led 44-20 with 10 minutes to play in the game before the Lady Techsters rallied, using a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to cut the lead. A Whitney Jones free throw with 6:25 to play cut the deficit to 44-33.

The Lady Techsters cut the LSU lead down to nine at 50-41 with just over a minute to play and a Shanavia Dowdell three-pointer from the top of the key barley missed the mark and the Lady Tigers finished with a 10-point win.

"Our kids aren't going to quit. They are going to keep working and get better. A lot of teams might have quit but our kids gutted it out and made a run. We just have to keep from putting ourselves in those types of situations."

After Tiawana Pringle opened the game with a three-pointer giving the Lady Techsters a 3-0 advantage, LSU used an 11-0 run over the next four minutes to grab an eight-point lead.

Tech committed six of its 14 first half turnovers in the opening four minutes of the game as LSU built the early 15-5 advantage. After back-to-back buckets by Tech cut the lead to 15-9, LSU used a 13-4 run to close the half and lead by 15.

The two teams traded buckets early in the second half before the Lady Tigers started pushing the lead out, eventually leading 44-20 with 10 minutes to play.

The Lady Techsters then implemented a 2-3 zone which caused the Lady Tigers some problems as Tech began its comeback.

"I thought we did a great job defensively," Long said. "There is always room for improvement and we made some mistakes but to hold them to 51 points on their home floor isn't bad."

Tech held LSU to 36 percent (18-51) shooting and forced 20 turnovers in the game.

Shanavia Dowdell led Tech with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Tiawana Pringle added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Tech returns to action Dec. 22 when its hosts UALR at 5 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center.