Nov. 17, 2014 GameDay Central | Game Notes
RUSTON - In its season opener, Louisiana Tech pulled out a 76-69 road win against Stephen F. Austin, the defending Southland Conference regular season champion.
Tuesday night head coach Tyler Summitt and Co. will have an opportunity to face Northwestern State, the defending Southland Conference tournament champion from a year ago.
Tipoff from Prather Coliseum in Natchitoches is 6:30 p.m. and the game can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on KNBB 97.7 FM (Ruston/Monroe) and KTKC 92.9 FM (Springhill) with the pregame show starting at 6 p.m.
In the seven-point win over Stephen F. Austin - a team that returns the majority of its starters from last year's 23-win campaign, Louisiana Tech overcame 22 turnovers by shooting the basketball at an impressive clip. The Lady Techsters hit 51 percent from the field, 59 percent from the three-point line and 75 percent from the free throw line.
"We have a lot to learn from the game, a lot to learn," Summitt said. "I was very proud of the team. We didn't quit. That was our point to the players in the locker room after the game. We never hung our heads and we are proud of them for that. Now we have to be more consistent. If we had been more consistent (against Stephen F. Austin) we never would have been down by 10 in the game. We are going to work hard on being more consistent."
Tech illustrated a balanced offensive attack in the victory as Kelia Shelton (18 points), JaQuan Jackson (16 points), Chrisstasia Walter (16 points) and Tiara Davenport (12 points) all scored in double figures. Preseason first team all-conference forward Whitney Frazier added eight points.
Northwestern State coached by former LA Tech letter-winner Brooke (Lassiter) Stoehr enters the match-up with a 1-0 record, defeating Letourneau 78-35 in its opener on Friday. The Demons also boasted four players in double figures in the victory, led by Presley Owens' 14 points.
Tech leads the all-time series against Northwestern State 22-6, including last year's 74-40 victory over the Demons in Ruston. LA Tech is 7-2 all-time against the Demons in Natchitoches although the two programs haven't met at Prather Coliseum since 1983-84.
Fans can follow in-game updates through social media avenues, including Twitter (@LATechWBB), Facebook (Facebook.com/LATechWBB) and Instagram (@LATechWBB). Fans can also access live stats and a live video stream of the game through the Northwestern State website (NSUDemons.com).
Season tickets are still on sale for both the Lady Techsters and Bulldogs and can be purchased by calling the Tech Ticket Office at 318-257-3631 or emailing TechTickets@latech.edu.
