Final Stats

MT Game 2

Season Stats

RUSTON - Louisiana Tech head coach Tyler Summitt knew Saturday night's match-up against defending Conference USA champion and league leader Middle Tennessee would be tough.

However, Summitt suspended starting guards Chrisstasia Walter and Kanedria Andrews prior to the game, making the challenge of facing the Blue Raiders even more difficult.

With only eight players dressed for the game, Tech (11-11, 6-5) fell 68-44 to Middle Tennessee before 1,907 fans at the Thomas Assembly Center.

"We talk to our players and tell them that our culture comes before winning," Summitt said. "It comes first, and we are not going to sacrifice the long term for the short term. It was a culture decision, and it was one that wasn't easy because we knew what it meant in this game. It's something that is hard to do as a coach, but I will do it every time. It's who I am and who our staff is. We put our values and principles first. They players will be held accountable to stay within our culture.

"The (eight that played) were up against one of the best teams in our conference. It was tough. I am very proud pf them. I thought they fought. We told them at halftime let us play like it is zero, zero. I thought they did a good job. The main thing we have to take away is we have to execute better. Scoring 18 points in a half isn't going to lead to success. Credit them for disrupting our offense."

While Summitt got his message across to his team, LA Tech had no answer for Blue Raiders 6-foot-4-inch forward Cheyenne Parker, who scored 34 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in the victory. Parker hit 12-of-22 field goals and 10-of-12 free throws despite being double and tripled teamed all night long.

"Our post, we get buried so deep," Summitt said. "We tried fronting her. We tried playing behind her and pushing her out. We tried staying on side of her. We tried doubling her. Our post defense has to be an emphasis. We have to be better with our post defense."

Early in the game it appeared as neither team would score. Tech missed its first 13 field goals while Middle Tennessee missed its first eight. However, once the Blue Raiders and Parker solved the LA Tech zone, MT started to distances itself from the Lady Techsters on the scoreboard.

"I thought we got a number of clean looks tonight," Summitt said. "We simply didn't knock shots down when we did get open looks. Middle Tennessee is very good defensively. They are well-coached. Parker makes it tough inside with her shot blocking ability. However, we have to execute better and when we get open looks we have to knock them down."

Tech went almost 10 minutes without making a field goal. Kelia Shelton's three-pointer with 10:17 to play in the first half was its first, cutting Middle Tennessee's lead to 12-6. However, the Lady Techsters hit just 5-of-29 shots from the field in the first half and trailed 38-18 at the break.

The Lady Techsters continued to fight over the final 20 minutes of action despite playing only seven players in the second half. Tech showed a slight improvement offensively, shooting 31 percent after the break and scoring 26 second half points.

Whitney Frazier led Tech with 12 points and six rebounds while Kevione Moten added seven points and 10 rebounds. Brandi Wingate chipped in with eight points and six boards and Shelton added six points, six assists and five rebounds.

The Lady Techsters return to action Thursday when they travel to Boca Raton to face Florida Atlantic.