Dec. 12, 2010

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RUSTON - Louisiana Tech overcame a season-high 27 turnovers to down Southern 52-44 Sunday afternoon before 1,722 fans at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Adrienne Johnson led Tech with 19 points and nine rebounds while Whitney Jones added 12 points and Shantale Bramble-Donaldson recorded her first career double double with 10 points and 13 rebounds as Tech won for a second straight time.

"Twenty-seven turnovers is unacceptable," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "They didn't do anything we didn't expect them to do. We have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball; or protecting the ball and our space."

Tech (4-3) came out of the gates strong, taking a 21-5 lead with 7:51 to play on a free throw by Tarkeisha Wysinger-Mackey. However, the Lady Techsters committed 11 turnovers over the final eight minutes of the half as Jasmine Bendolph's floater with 2:52 to play was the only bucket LA Tech would make during that timeframe.

Southern took advantage of LA Tech's sloppy play, cutting the deficit down to 26-17 at the break.

Tech shot 44 percent (8-18) from the field in the opening half, including 10-of-14 from the free throw line while holding Southern to a mere 19 percent (6-31) from the field. The Lady Techsters outrebounded Southern 25-11 in the opening half.

The two teams came out of the second half locker room trading buckets as Tech held a 37-25 advantage when Johnson picked up her fourth personal foul with 13 minutes to play in the game.

Weatherspoon took her leading scorer out of the game and Southern cut the lead down to 39-32 on a layup by Jamie Floyd at the 8:36 mark of the game.

However, two hustle plays on the offensive end of the floor by the Lady Techsters over the next few possessions led to easy layups by Wysinger-Mackey and Johnson as Tech pushed its advantage back out to 47-32 with just under four minutes to play.

"We talk to our players all the time about valuing every possession," Weatherspoon said. "Do the little things; hustle plays. We had a couple of big ones late that helped us. Even when things aren't going your way, you can always make hustle plays."

One final run by Southern cut the deficit down to 49-44 with under a minute to play before three free throws down the stretch sealed the win.

Ashley Augerson led Southern (2-6) with 14 points.

Tech shot 40 percent (17-43) for the game despite going 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.

The Lady Techsters return to action Wednesday when they host Arkansas State at 7