Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Brooke Pumroy scored 24 points and Ashley Santos and Tiara Davenport each added 15 points but Louisiana Tech saw its season come to an end 72-67 in overtime Wednesday to the Rice Owls in the second day of the 2016 Conference USA Tournament at Bartow Arena.

Tech, which played without first team all-Conference USA performer Brandi Wingate, ended the season with a 14-16 record with the loss. Rice advances to play Middle Tennessee Thursday in quarterfinal action.

In a game that saw 16 ties and 19 lead changes, Louisiana Tech had an opportunity with less than a second left to win the contest. Trailing 61-60, senior guard Brooke Pumroy -- one of the top free throw shooters in Conference USA at 89 percent -- was fouled on a jump shot, sending her to the line with a chance to give the Lady Techsters a one point lead.

Pumroy, who for the second straight time scorched the Owls with a game-high 24 points, hit the first to tie it. However, her second attempt with .6 seconds to play, rattled out sending the contest to overtime and giving Rice a new life.

"Brooke is exactly who we wanted at the free throw line," said Tech head coach Tyler Summitt. "And if we had it again, that's who I would want there. She is a great shooter and experienced in clutch situations. The rim was simply unkind on the second one.

"The details are what got us in this game, missed layups and missed box outs. We missed more layups tonight than we did in most games but it was by everyone tonight. Not having our leading scorer was tough, and it makes us take a different mentality. But there is no excuses, Rice played well."

Pumroy's sharp-shooting is what helped keep LA Tech in the game much of the night as the Fairborn, Ohio native hit 8-of-17 field goals, including 4-of-7 from downtown.

"It stings that I missed that free throw at the end because it is my last game at Louisiana Tech, but stuff happens," Pumroy said. "I was proud of the team, getting in a good mindset despite not having Brandi. The future looks good for this program overall though."

In the extra period, Tech took two-point leads on two different occasions but each time Rice answered on the offensive end. And defensively the Lady Techster broke down, as the Owls hit three layups while also making 5-of-6 free throws.

Despite playing without its leading rebounder in Wingate and playing much of the game with a five-guard lineup, the Lady Techsters outrebounded Rice 46-35, including pulling down 20 offensive rebounds.

However, Tech committed 20 turnovers which led directly to a 26-15 advantage for Rice on points off of turnovers.

Santos recorded her second double double of the season for Tech, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while also adding five assists and two steals in 40 minutes. Davenport added 15 points and 8 rebounds while Reauna Cleaver scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Tech hit only 14-of-25 free throws in the loss.