Box Score Dec. 15, 2014 Box Score | Photo Gallery 
RUSTON - With Louisiana Tech struggling to knock down shots during the first half of Monday night's non-conference match-up against Nicholls State, Lady Techster head coach Tyler Summitt turned to an unusual source.
Walk-on Ruby Richie answered as the sophomore knocked down three of her game-high four three-pointers over the final eight minutes of the first half as LA Tech turned a one-point deficit (16-15) into a 47-25 halftime lead.
"I am very proud of Ruby for knocking down those shots and also our players getting her the ball," Summitt said. "If we are going to be playing against a zone, Ruby Richie is a great player to have on your team. She plays hard. Whether she hits shots or not, if she is playing hard and her teammates are not, she is going to get the playing time. That is why she has been playing. That is why she has this opportunity."
Richie, who entered the game having totaled 10 points through the first six contests of the year, ended the night with a career-high 16 points in 24 minutes of action. The former Cedar Creek High School prepster hit 5-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-8 from behind the arc.
Tech (4-4), which defeated Nicholls State for the 16th time in 17 meetings, capitalized on the final eight minutes of the first half, outscoring the Colonels (3-4) 32-9 during that stretch and giving it a 22-point halftime lead.
The Lady Techsters would need it. The final 20 minutes of basketball were not up to the standard Summitt has set for the program. After pushing its lead out to as many as 26 early in the second half, LA Tech became content and watched Nicholls State cut the deficit down to 71-60 with just under three minutes remaining in the game.
"We said we outscored them 47-25 in the first half with only five turnovers," Summitt said. "We were pushing in transition, holding them to 37 percent shooting. We came out in the second half and allowed them to shoot 44 percent. We did not push in transition. We did not sprint back and we allowed their shooters to get shots off. It was just a lack of focus. It is something you have to battle as a coach when a team sees they are up 20, they do not see why they should do all out every possession."
With Nicholls State minus its leading scorer and starting point guard Emani White (injury), the Lady Techsters pressured the Colonels full-court. The pressure resulted in 24 turnovers as Tech outscoring NSU 28-11 on points off of turnovers. Tech also pulled down 21 offensive rebounds which led to a 26-9 advantage in second chance points.
"There are certain things that we did well," Summitt said. "Kelia (Shelton) was able to get to the free throw line, but she did not knock down her other shots and struggled with her decision making on three point attempts. Chrisstasia did a great job. She had 11 assists but did not push the entire game. She needs to learn how to push every single minute that she is in, so that become a habit. Kevione Moten had 10 rebounds in 10 minutes. That is outstanding, but there were a lot of loose balls that she did not get. She has to learn how to stay in front and not foul in the post.
"Again, there are certain things that every player is doing well, but we cannot just have bits and pieces. That does not lead to championships. That does not lead to victories against really good teams that we are going to go up against in Conference USA."
Tech's bench led by Richie, Tiara Davenport (10 points, 4 rebounds), Brandi Wingate (nine points, three rebounds), Kevione Moten (6 points, 10 rebounds) and JaQuan Jackson (5 points, 2 steals) outscored the Nicholls State bench 46-13.
Whitney Frazier added 16 points, seven rebounds and five steals and Kelia Shelton chipped in with 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Walter added a career-high 11 assists and seven rebounds.
For the game, Tech shot 36 percent (28-78) from the field, 6-of-22 from the three-point line and 18-of-26 from the free throw line, while outrebounding Nicholls State 53-45.
Tech returns to action Saturday when it travels to Salt Lake to face Utah at 4 p.m. CT.