Final Stats

Box Score (PDF)

RUSTON -- For the past six games, Louisiana Tech senior Brandi Wingate has carried her team on her shoulders.

Saturday night at the Thomas Assembly Center, it was her teammates turn. With Wingate struggling and sitting on the bench during the decisive fourth quarter, the Lady Techsters outscored UL-Lafayette by 14 points and pulled away for a 79-62 win.

The victory snapped UL-Lafayette's five-game winning streak as Tech handed the Ragin Cajuns only their second loss of the season. ULL entered the game with wins over Ole Miss and Arkansas.

"I'm very proud of our bench tonight," said Tech head coach Tyler Summitt. "I really think that the six days we had of practice (following the Mississippi State game) helped some of our younger players like Jasmine LeBlanc, Reauna Cleaver and even Kevione Moten. They played really well tonight and were a big reason we won.

"Brandi allowed the first half to affect her. We talked about it in the dressing room after the game. She has to understand that even when her shots aren't falling, she has to rebound and do other things. She's played so well, but tonight wasn't her night."

Tech led 57-54 heading into the fourth quarter. And after watching UL-Lafayette guard KeKe Veal score 15 points in the third quarter going one-on-one against the LA Tech man-to-man defense, Summitt turned to a 2-3 zone in the fourth. It worked.

The Lady Techsters slowed down Veal and Co., holding UL-Lafayette to only eight points in the frame while Tech road the hot hand of Ashley Santos. The junior guard scored nine of her team-high 16 points in the frame, including a conventional three-point play with 5:37 to play that gave Tech a nine-point advantage.

Santos finished with a career-high 16 points and 10 rebounds for her first collegiate double double. In addition to Santos big game, Kierra Anthony added 13 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and a career-high six steals. Jasmine LeBlanc added a career-high 12 points while Tiara Davenport added 10 points. Cleaver added six points and nine rebounds while Moten added nine points and six boards.

Tech dominated on the boards, outrebounding ULL 52-26.

For the game, Tech shot 46 percent (26-56) from the field, 4-of-13 from the three-point line and 23-of-34 from the free throw line. ULL shot 36 percent (23-64) from the field, 5-of-15 from the three-point line and 11-of-17 from the free throw line.

Tech improved to 40-1 all-time against UL-Lafayette.

The Lady Techsters will host McNeese State Tuesday at 6 p.m.