Feb. 27, 2010

Box Score

RUSTON - Senior Shanavia Dowdell scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and recorded three blocks to power Louisiana Tech to a 69-56 win over Nevada before 2,034 fans at the Thomas Assembly Center Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, Tech (19-7, 10-4) took sole possession of second place in the Western Athletic Conference standings while Nevada (15-13, 9-5) fell to third place. Both teams still have two regular season games remaining as the Lady Techsters travel to Idaho and Boise State while Nevada hosts New Mexico State and Idaho.

Playing in the final home game of their careers, Dowdell and teammate Tiawana Pringle were instrumental in the victory.

Dowdell recorded her 19th double double of the year (tied for the most in the nation), including her 12th straight, and the 43rd of her career, tying former Kodak All-American Janice Lawrence for fifth place in the LA Tech record books.

After Nevada jumped out to an early 6-3 lead on a jumper by Amanda Johnson at the 17:38 mark of the half, senior Tiawana Pringle ignited a 14-0 LA Tech run scoring eight straight points as the Lady Techsters led 17-6 with 12 minutes to play.

"Shanavia and Tiawana have meant so much to this university and this program during their four years here," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "Not only on the court but off. They've both been such great role models for youngsters and have always handled their business in the classroom. They are two special people to me."

Nevada then used a run to close the gap to 22-17 on a free throw by Marissa Hammond at the 7:43 mark before Brietta Thomas knocked down a pair of three-pointers in a 9-0 Lady Techster run. Tech eventually pushed the advantage up to 16 at 36-20 with 2:45 to play in the half on a layup by Adrienne Johnson before the Wolf Pack closed the gap to 39-29 at the half.

"We had a couple of possessions down the stretch in the first half where we didn't execute and Nevada took advantage of it," Weatherspoon said. "It allowed them to have the momentum going into the half and our kids have to learn to value every possession."

The second half was a back and forth affair as Nevada cut the Tech lead to 42-37 on a Tahnee Robinson free throw with 16:04 to play before Tech used a 12-2 run to push the advantage out to 54-39 midway through the stanza.

After the Wolf Pack made one last run closing the lead to 54-46 on a Kayla Williams layup at the 9:29 mark, Tech pushed the lead back out and eventually led by as many as 19 points at 67-48 on a Martina Holloway bucket with 5:36 to play.

Johnson added nine points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks while Pringle and Thomas added eight points.

Robinson led Nevada with 17 points, 14 coming in the first half. Nicole Williams added 11 points.

Tech returns to action Wednesday when they travel to Idaho to face the Vandals at 10 p.m. CT on ESPNU.