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RUSTON -- Midway through Saturday's final practice in preparation for Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech head coach Tyler Summitt had seen enough turnovers, general sloppiness and lack of focus.

Summitt sent a message as he kicked the entire team out of practice. Message delivered.

By the way his team responded less than 24 hours later, they sent one right back to their coach. Message received.

Louisiana Tech used a dominating defensive effort and a spirited 40 minutes of basketball to defeat Southern Miss 72-37 Sunday before 1,724 fans at the Thomas Assembly Center in an important Conference USA match-up.

With the victory, Tech (9-8, 4-2 C-USA) won its third straight game -- longest streak of the season -- and moved into sole possession of fourth place in the Conference USA standings.

"That is the thing about these young ladies and this team, they will respond," Summitt said. "The next step is the consistency to where we do not have to do drastic things like taking Brandi [Wingate] or Tiara [Davenport] out of the starting lineup or kicking them out of practice. You see the results."

Defense and rebounding was the name of the game. Less than four weeks after Southern Miss (10-7, 3-3 C-USA) defeated LA Tech in Hattiesburg, the Lady Techsters held USM to a season-low in points while forcing a season-high in turnovers (30). Tech pulled down 24 offensive rebounds -- outrebounded USM 43-33 -- which led to a 26-5 advantage in second chance points.

Tech forced the 30 turnovers and committed a season-low nine resulting in a 38-6 advantage in points off of turnovers.

"We took care of the ball. We only turned it over nine times, because yesterday we were running double suicides and stadiums for them." Summitt said. "Brandi Wingate is still responding from the last time we took her out of the lineup. Our team as a whole responded. Again, I am proud of them for it, but the next step is that consistency."

Tech also did a good job on Southern Miss freshman Caitlin Jenkins, who had scorched the Lady Techsters for 29 points and 15 rebounds in the first meeting. This time, Tech held her to 10 points and 10 rebounds.

"That was our game plan, to take [Caitlin Jenkins] away," Summitt said. "I think we did a good job of that. I have to say that Reauna Cleaver is the competitor of the game for us. She got it because of the defensive job that she did on Caitlin Jenkins. That was our freshman post against their freshman post, and I am very proud of Sweets for her effort."

Both teams got off to a slow start. USM held a 6-5 advantage at the first media timeout with 4:23 to play in the opening quarter before Tech responded to take a 14-9 lead at the end of the period.

"I am disappointed in our press break," Summitt said. "I know we only turned it over nine times, but you see at times what we can do against the press, which is get very open shots. We have to be able to do that every time. It does not mean that we are going to score every time, but we have to be able to push it and go every time. I thought we were on our heels for the first five minutes of the game. We have to start a little stronger."

Tech held a 10-point lead at 30-20 at halftime thanks to 10-points from Ashley Santos. Summitt's message to his team was don't let up. They didn't.

Brandi Wingate ignited the second half charge, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds, a career-high 5 assists and 4 steals in 35 minutes of action. Santos added 14 points and five rebounds while Brooke Pumroy chipped in with 10 points and three assists.

The final 20 minutes was all Tech. The Lady Techsters outscored Southern Miss 20-6 in the third quarter to take a 50-26 lead as the Golden Eagles made only two field goals during the 10-minute period. Southern Miss would never make a run in the fourth quarter as the Lady Techsters coasted to their biggest conference win since a 92-48 win over San Jose State on Jan. 13, 2010.

The 37 points is the fewest scored by an opponent in a conference game since Tech held San Jose State to 34 on Jan. 6, 2011.

It also marks the first time a team has held Southern Miss under 40 points since Mississippi State accomplished the feat in 2010.

The Lady Techsters will return to action Thursday when they face UTSA at 7 p.m. in San Antonio.