Feb. 21, 2010

Box Score

HONOLULU - For the second straight game, Shanavia Dowdell and Adrienne Johnson recorded double doubles to lead Louisiana Tech to a 79-71 win over Hawaii Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center in Western Athletic Conference action.

With the win, Tech (18-6, 9-3 WAC) moves into sole possession of second place in the league standings entering this week's two-game homestand against first place Fresno State (22-5, 13-0) and third place Nevada (15-12, 9-4).

The Lady Techsters have won six straight games, matching their longest winning streak of the season as they position themselves for the upcoming WAC Tournament March 10-14 in Reno.

On Saturday night, it was Dowdell and Johnson who were in the right position most of the night as the duo combined to score 46 points, grab 23 rebounds, record four assists, four steals and three blocks. Dowdell notched her 17th double double of the season - and 10th straight - with 26 points and 12 rebounds while Johnson recorded her fifth with 20 points and 11 boards.

It didn't come easy as Hawaii used 6-foot-4-inch Rebecca Dew and 6-foot-3-inch Katie Wilson to pound on Dowdell all night; however, the reigning WAC Player of the Year showed she was up to the challenge.

Dowdell scored 18 of her game-high total in the final 20 minutes of play including eight points down the stretch after Hawaii cut what had been an 18-point lead down to four at 62-58 with 5:58 to play.

"I didn't think Shanavia was as aggressive as she needed to be in the first half," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "However, when you have a player like her and Adrienne, you have to go to them. We are an inside-out team. Some people call that old school basketball but that's what we do.

"Both of them can hurt you inside and they can both step out and hurt you outside. Hawaii tried to get physical with them tonight and they showed that they can handle that type of challenge."

After Hawaii jumped out to a 16-11 lead on a Dita Liepkalne bucket at the 14:36 mark, Tech responded with a 22-5 run over the next 10 minutes of play to grab a 33-21 advantage. The Lady Techsters went into the halftime locker room leading 43-31 thanks to 12 first half points by Johnson and a combined 14 points off the bench from Tarkeisha Wysinger, Brietta Thomas and Martina Holloway.

LA Tech quickly built the lead up to 52-34 as Dowdell scored the first six points of the second half while Whitney Jones buried a three-pointer at the 16:28 mark for the biggest lead of the game.

Hawaii (9-18, 3-11) wouldn't surrender.

Behind the play of guard Keisha Kanekoa and reserves Julita Bungaite and Wilson, the Rainbow Wahine fought back to eventually cut the Tech lead down to four before the Lady Techsters pulled out the win.

For the game, Tech hit 46 percent (30-66) of its field goals and 15-of-19 free throws while Hawaii shot 42 percent (30-70) from the field.

Hawaii became only the second league team to outrebound Tech all season as the Rainbow Wahine led 41-38, including 17 offensive boards.

Kanekoa led Hawaii with 16 points while Bungaite added 13 points and Wilson 12.

Tech returns to action Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Fresno State.