Feb. 14, 2008

Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Louisiana Tech overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to tie the game up midway through the second half before New Mexico State pulled away late for a 65-55 win Thursday night at the Pan American Center.

With the loss Tech fell to 11-13 overall, 5-6 in Western Athletic Conference play while New Mexico State improved to 18-6, 8-3 in league play. The Aggies are now 13-1 at home this year.

"We dug ourselves a big hole at the half," said Tech head coach Chris Long. "Our guards provided nothing for us offensively in the first half, and I absolutely challenged them in the locker room. New Mexico State does a great job of collapsing inside on our post players, and we have to find ways to score. We just needed a guard to be able to make a play and score. They didn't do that in the first half."

Tech (11-13, 5-6 WAC) shot only 19 percent (6-31) in the opening half and found itself trailing 34-18 entering the halftime locker room. Sophomore point guard Tiawana Pringle's three-pointer with 5:30 to play in the opening stanza were the only points by a Tech perimeter player.

The trey by Pringle cut New Mexico State's lead to 23-12; however, the Aggies took advantage of a lapse in perimeter defense over the next three minutes hitting a trio of three-pointers to push the advantage back out to 32-16 with under two minutes to play.

"I thought we played pretty well defensively, except for that stretch," Long said. "Our game plan was to make sure we didn't help off their shooters because they can really light you up, especially at home. However, I had to substitute because one of our kids kept letting her man free during that stretch. Unfortunately, it was when we started to score a little and could have been a much closer game at the half."

Tech wouldn't go away quietly though. The Lady Techsters came out of the locker room and scored the first 14 points of the second half, cutting the Aggies lead to only 34-32 with 15:29 to play on a jumper by Shanavia Dowdell.

Tech used a full-court press to force five turnovers by New Mexico State during that stretch, igniting the Lady Techsters comeback.

After the Aggies pushed the advantage back out to 39-34, Tech used a 5-0 run to tie the game at 39-39 on a jumper by Dowdell with 9:48 to play.

"I thought we came out with much better energy to start the second half," Long said. "We played with great intensity and forced them out of their rhythm. We just couldn't sustain things offensively down the stretch."

After Tech tied the game at 39, New Mexico State counted with a 15-3 run over the next five minutes and the Lady Techsters would get no closer than eight the rest of the way.

Dowdell led Tech with 19 points in 9-of-12 shooting while Jo Sneed registered her WAC-leading 17th double double with 18 points and 17 rebounds, one shy of her career high.

However, Tech's starting backcourt combined to make just 5-of-30 field goals, something the Lady Techsters simply couldn't overcome.

Anikia Jawara led New Mexico State with 18 points - 16 in the second half - while Sherell Neal added 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Tech returns to action Saturday when it hosts San Jose State at 7 p.m.