Dec. 15, 2009
RUSTON - Louisiana Tech returns to action Wednesday night when the Lady Techsters hosts in-state foe McNeese State at 7 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center on Autograph Night.
The first 500 fans through the door will receive a free Lady Techster schedule poster and following the game, the LA Tech players will return courtside to autograph the posters.
LA Tech (4-3) leads the all-time series against McNeese State 16-5, although the Cowgirls upset the Lady Techsters 71-66 in Lake Charles last season.
Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon and Co. have lost three of their last four games although the trio of setbacks have come by a combined 17 points against #7 LSU, #8 Baylor and Mississippi State.
"As a team we have to do the little things better; pay attention to the details," Weatherspoon said. "We still haven't put two halves together. We still haven't put 20 full minutes together. Whether its turnovers or not pulling down a defensive rebound or not setting a proper screen, it's been the little things that have cost us in the losses. This will be another opportunity for us to get better as a team."
Despite the brutal four-game stretch that also included a road win over Western Kentucky, LA Tech ranks among the Western Athletic Conference leaders in scoring offense (No. 2 at 74.4 ppg), scoring margin (No. 1 at +13.3), field goal percentage (No. 1 at 46.4 percent), field goal percentage defense (No. 1 at 36.3 percent), rebounding margin (No. 1 at +5.4) and free throw percentage (No. 3 at 72.0 percent).
Adrienne Johnson (17.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and Shanavia Dowdell (15.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg) both rank in the top five in the WAC in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and free throw percentage as the duo continues to dominate the opposition.
McNeese State (3-5) lost three key components to last year's team that defeated LA Tech with the graduation of Shante Perry, who hit 9-of-10 three-pointers and scored 39 points against the Lady Techsters, and the departure of Ashlyn and Caitlyn Baggett.
The Cowgirls three wins have come against Texas College (76-51), Houston Baptist (63-41) and Paul Quinn (101-40) while the losses have come against New Orleans (62-53), Samford (72-58), Kentucky (85-50), UL-Lafayette (82-68) and UL-Monroe (62-51).
Monroe native Kiara Johnson leads the Cowgirls averaging 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds while teammate Kendra Wells is averaging 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds.
As a team McNeese State is forcing 27 turnovers a game.
The contest can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network including ESPN 97.7 FM (Ruston) and KBYO 92.7 FM (Monroe/Farmerville). Fans can also view the contest via the internet by subscribing to LA Tech All-Access at www.latechsports.com.
