Jan. 27, 2011

Box Score

MOSCOW, Idaho - Adrienne Johnson scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Louisiana Tech to a 63-56 win over Idaho in Western Athletic Conference action before 266 fans at Cowan Spectrum Thursday night.

With the victory, LA Tech (14-5, 6-0 WAC) kept its one-game lead over Fresno State in the WAC standings heading into Saturday night's contest at Boise State.

"Offensively Adrienne Johnson is unbelievable," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "She really stepped up for us and got us going. Once she gets going, her teammates follow. However, as a team, it's important that we start games better. Idaho was a step faster than us. We were prepared but we just didn't always execute.

Johnson, who recorded her 11th game of 20-plus points on the year, didn't start out strong and early in the second half with Tech holding onto a slim four-point lead, Weatherspoon pulled her All-American candidate from the game.

Johnson responded by scoring six straight points on perimeter jumpers as Tech used an 18-4 run to push a 40-36 lead out 58-40 with just over four minutes to play.

"I just wanted to give her a chance to refocus and reassess," Weatherspoon said. "She wasn't playing like she is capable of. She was allowing some things to happen on the defensive end that was hurting us. Adrienne responded. She always responds to whatever I say and whatever I do, and that is the sign of a great player."

However, Idaho wouldn't go quietly as the Vandals cut the lead down to 61-53 and forced a turnover with 40 seconds to play. The Lady Techsters got the defensive stop on the possession though and Idaho's threat was ended.

"Whenever there is time on the clock, then the game isn't over. Idaho never gave up. They kept scrapping and clawing. They put in shooters and spread the floor. The worst thing we did in the second half was put them in the bonus with 13 minutes to play by fouling. They are a good free throw shooting team and so we had to be careful the rest of the way defensively because we didn't want them to get to the foul line."

Early in the game, Tech looked like the 14-hour trip to Moscow had taken its toll on the team as Idaho used an 11-0 run to grab a 14-5 advantage just eight minutes into the contest.

However, the Lady Techster responded with a run of its own, scoring the next 13 points to retake the lead at 18-14 and eventually entered the halftime locker room leading 30-25.

In addition to Johnson's big night, Tarkeisha Wysinger-Mackey added 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists while Shantale Bramble-Donaldson scored nine points.

Yinka Olorunnife led Idaho with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Tech returns to action Saturday when the Lady Techsters play at Boise State at 8 p.m. CT.