Box Score

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FREEPORT, Bahamas -- Brandi Wingate scored a career-high 22 points and guards Ruby Richie and Brooke Pumroy both hit big free throws in the final two minutes to lead Louisiana Tech to a 58-53 win over Denver in the final game of the 2015 Junkanoo Jam at St. George's High School.

Tech (3-2) built a 14-point second quarter lead before Denver (1-4) came storming back. The Pioneers actually took a 46-42 lead on a three-pointer by Samantha Romanowski with 5:54 to play in the game.

However, Tech clamped down defensively, forcing Denver to miss its final six field goal attempts and commit four turnovers down the stretch.

"This was an ugly, ugly win," said Tech head coach Tyler Summitt. "I give Denver a lot of credit. Their coaching staff did a great job of making adjustments to everything we tried to do on the offensive end and made it difficult on us.

"I am proud of the way we made plays on both ends of the floor down the stretch. We tightened up defensively, forced some tough shots and some turnovers. And we hit some big shots and free throws. We did what we had to do at the end to win."

With Tech trailing by four, Wingate converted on a conventional three-point play and Ashley Santos followed with back-to-back jumpers to give the Lady Techsters a 49-46 advantage. Following a pair of free throws by Denver cut the deficit to one, Richie, Pumroy and Santos combined to make 9-of-10 free throws over the final 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

"I thought Brandi had a great tournament for us," Summitt said. "Not just on the offensive end, but doing a lot of little things. I'm proud of Ruby. We put her in and she took care of the basketball and made some big free throws.

"We struggled to shoot the three-pointer today. I will take blame for that. I have to get Brooke and Ashley the basketball in better position to hit shots."

Wingate, who was coming off her first double double of the season in the loss to UCLA Friday, hit 9-of-11 field goals and all four free throws en route to surpassing her previous career-high of 21 points, set last year against Old Dominion.

Santos ended with 10 points.

Romanowski led Denver with 17 points while Jesse Spittel added 10 points and nine rebounds.

For the game, Tech shot 49 percent (22-45) from the field and 13-of-16 from the free throw line while Denver hit only 35 percent (20-57) of its field goals, including 4-of-20 three-pointers. Denver outrebounded Tech 34-26 in the game.

The Lady Techsters return to action Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. when they host Prairie View A&M at the Thomas Assembly Center.