GameDay Central | Game Notes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - After winning back-to-back games for the first time this year, Louisiana Tech will put its modest streak on the line Thursday night when the Lady Techsters travel to face UAB at Bartow Arena at 7 p.m.

Tech (7-7, 2-1 C-USA) defeated UTEP 90-72 and UTSA 79-74 in its last two outings after dropping its Conference USA opener to Southern Miss 79-77 in overtime. UAB (7-7, 1-2 C-USA) snapped a three-game losing streak Sunday with a 68-45 road win at FIU.

Head coach Tyler Summitt's team has shown marked improvements offensively since returning from Christmas break. The Lady Techsters have scored 77 or more points in their last five games, the longest such streak since the 2008-09 season.

"Offensively, you have to give credit to our coaching staff for putting in this system and also our players with all of our weapons on offense," said Summitt, who has seen his team shoot almost 50 percent from the three-point line in Conference USA play. "We knew that in the pre-season. Being up tempo helps with that. We took a page out of (Bulldog) Coach (Michael) White's book.

"We are excited about the offense and where we are going. We have got to get better defensively. Teams are shooting a high percentage on us. If you look at it, we will have 35 minutes of a pretty good defensive presence. Then there are five minutes where they go 9-for-10 and that kills us. Again, it is that focus and mentality that every possession matters."

The Lady Techsters rank fourth in the league in scoring offense at 72.2 points per game which is an almost eight point per game increase over last season. Tech is led by two of the top offensive threats in Conference USA in Whitney Frazier (15.4 ppg, No. 10) and Kelia Shelton (15.1 ppg, No. 11).

However, Tech's entire roster has shown an ability to score on any given night as nine of the 10 players have scored in double figures at least once this season while seven of the 10 have led the team in scoring at least one time.

The question is whether the Lady Techsters can get the same production on the road. In the past three and a half seasons, LA Tech is only 14-33 in true road games, including a 2-6 mark this season. It's a mindset and attitude that Summitt said must change.

"Playing on the road is definitely a different mindset," Summitt said. "You have to know that everything can go against you. Whether that is referees, fans or whatever it may be. We have talked a lot about mental toughness. It is going to take mental toughness with these road games.

"The next step is consistency. You saw two games where we were fairly consistent, but can we come back and be even more consistent with UAB and Middle Tennessee? We are still looking forward to that 40 minute game and championship mentality."

UAB will offer a stiff test. The Blazers boast one of the top post players in Conference USA in 6-foot-2-inch senior Janae Smith (transfer from Illinois State). Smith, who sat out last year due to NCAA transfer rule, leads UAB in scoring (17.4 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg), blocks (1.8 bpg) and steals (1.8 spg). She is also only one assist behind Chelsea Black for the team lead.

"UAB is a very well-coached team," Summitt said. "We are looking forward to playing them. We have to have better post defense than we have had in the last three games. That really will be the emphasis going in. We have to defend. We are going to push in transition like we always do and focus on attacking on offense. It is going to be about the post defense and locking them down. That will be the focus."

The contest can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on KNBB 97.7 FM and KTKC 92.9 FM with the pregame show set for 6:30 p.m. Fans can also follow in-game updates through social media avenues, including Facebook (/LATechWBB), Twitter (@LATechWBB) and Instagram (@LATechWBB).

Fans are also reminded that tickets for the 2015 Conference USA basketball tournament in Birmingham (March 11-14) for $180 which includes tickets to every game (both men's and women's sessions). To purchase your tickets to the tournament or to any Louisiana Tech basketball home game, call the Tech Ticket Office at 318-257-3631, email techtickets@latech.edu or online at https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/latech/EN/buy/browse.