March 4, 2011
Be The Match
GameDay Central
RUSTON - Louisiana Tech wrapped up a share of the Western Athletic Conference regular season title with its 14-point victory over Boise State Thursday.
Now the Lady Techsters want to clinch the outright title and can do so with a victory in their regular season finale against Idaho set for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Tech (22-6, 14-1 WAC) is a perfect 12-0 all-time against Idaho, but the Vandals have played the Lady Techsters as tough as anyone in the league in recent memory. In the last five meetings between the two teams, Tech has won twice in overtime and two other times by seven points, including this year's 63-56 win in Moscow on Jan. 27.
Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon's team has won 15 of its last 16 and has already solidified the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Las Vegas March 9-12.
However, with the outright regular season title still up for grabs, the Lady Techsters have some unfinished business.
All-American candidate Adrienne Johnson scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for her 13th double double of the season in the win over Boise State Thursday night as Johnson moved into 7th place on the LA Tech all-time scoring list.
Meanwhile, senior guard Brietta Thomas added a career-high 28 points, hitting seven three-pointers which tied for the third most in Tech history in a single game.
Johnson and Thomas will be two of five LA Tech seniors that will be honored at halftime joining Tarkeisha Wysinger-Mackey, Martina Holloway and manager Melinda Humble.
Idaho (14-13, 7-8 WAC) has already clinched the fifth seed in the upcoming WAC Tournament after its 73-65 win at New Mexico State Thursday night. The Vandals have lost five of their last seven games.
Senior forward Yinka Olorunnife leads Idaho and is one of only two players in the WAC averaging a double double with 14.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest. Rachele Kloke (11.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and Derisa Telani (10.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg) also sports double digit scoring averages.
The game can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on ESPN 97.7 FM with the pregame show beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Doors to the Thomas Assembly Center will open at noon as fans are encouraged to come and participate in the "Be the Match with the Lady Techsters" donor drive that will be held in honor of Yvonne Johnson, mother of Adrienne Johnson.
From noon until 2 p.m. in the concourse of the Thomas Assembly Center, Tech fans and any individuals in the area are encouraged to participate in this easy, pain-free process. Members of the Louisiana Tech Lady Techster Tipoff Club will be helping on Saturday.
Individuals interested in participating are asked to come to the Thomas Assembly Center during the two-hour time period. To join, people need to be between the ages of 18 - 60, willing to donate to any patient in need, and meet health guidelines. Registration involves completing a health history form and giving a swab of cheek cells.
