Wednesday, March 11
Frisco, Texas
11:30 a.m.
Louisiana Tech University
vs
UAB
Photo by: Darrell James
@LATechWBB Opens C-USA Tourney Wednesday
3/10/2020 3:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FRISCO, Texas – Louisiana Tech will open up play in the 2020 Air Force Reserve Conference USA Basketball Tournament at the Star with an 11:30 a.m. tipoff against No. 5 seed UAB Wednesday.
The contest can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on KNBB 97.7 FM with the pregame show starting at 11 a.m. It can also be seen streamed live on ESPN+.
Tech (14-15) enters the tournament playing its basketball of the season. Over its last eight games, the Lady Techsters are 4-4 but have had the lead or been tied in the final 60 seconds of regulation in all four losses, including heartbreaking setbacks against 2-time defending champion Rice and No. 3 seed WKU.
"I like where we are mentally entering this week," said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. "I didn't know what to expect from them last week against Rice. We didn't' have great practices but we came out and played hard and competed well and had a chance to win. Then we go on the road and have a tough road swing, but I thought we really competed hard in both games.
"This team believes it can win. It's just a matter of can we finish games. Most of the time a 12 seed doesn't have that feel. I don't feel like we are a 12 seed, but we are. You are what your record says you are. But I feel like we have competed well and just come up short lately. Our team is really playing hard and believes it can win."
The Lady Techsters opening round opponent is the top shooting team in Conference USA. UAB (20-10) leads the league in field goal percentage (.451), three-point field goal percentage (.386) and free throw percentage (.749). The Blazers are led by first team all-conference guards Rachael Childress (16.7 ppg, 103-227 three-pointers) and Miyah Barnes (12.5 ppg, 105 assists).
However, the Blazers are arguably as good on the defensive end of the floor.
"There aren't a lot of weaknesses with them," said Stoehr. We have typically matched up pretty well with them in terms of our ability to use some of our athletic ability. We have to do a great job and its starts with Barnes. They are a veteran team that starts five seniors. They have a lot of older players that have played a lot of minutes.
"Their offensive numbers are staggering but they are so underrated defensively. They just don't make mistakes. They don't gamble. They are tremendous at keeping people in front of you and daring you to shoot."
UAB leads the all-time series against LA Tech 6-4 although the series has been dominated by the visiting team, with eight of the 10 games being won by the team on the road. Wednesday's match-up will be the first one on a neutral floor.
The Blazers defeated LA Tech 71-51 in Ruston in late January in the only meeting of the year between the two programs. Tech led in the third quarter before the Blazers pulled away over the final 15 minutes.
Fans planning to attend the games in Frisco should be aware there is a clear bag policy at the Star.
The contest can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on KNBB 97.7 FM with the pregame show starting at 11 a.m. It can also be seen streamed live on ESPN+.
Tech (14-15) enters the tournament playing its basketball of the season. Over its last eight games, the Lady Techsters are 4-4 but have had the lead or been tied in the final 60 seconds of regulation in all four losses, including heartbreaking setbacks against 2-time defending champion Rice and No. 3 seed WKU.
"I like where we are mentally entering this week," said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. "I didn't know what to expect from them last week against Rice. We didn't' have great practices but we came out and played hard and competed well and had a chance to win. Then we go on the road and have a tough road swing, but I thought we really competed hard in both games.
"This team believes it can win. It's just a matter of can we finish games. Most of the time a 12 seed doesn't have that feel. I don't feel like we are a 12 seed, but we are. You are what your record says you are. But I feel like we have competed well and just come up short lately. Our team is really playing hard and believes it can win."
The Lady Techsters opening round opponent is the top shooting team in Conference USA. UAB (20-10) leads the league in field goal percentage (.451), three-point field goal percentage (.386) and free throw percentage (.749). The Blazers are led by first team all-conference guards Rachael Childress (16.7 ppg, 103-227 three-pointers) and Miyah Barnes (12.5 ppg, 105 assists).
However, the Blazers are arguably as good on the defensive end of the floor.
"There aren't a lot of weaknesses with them," said Stoehr. We have typically matched up pretty well with them in terms of our ability to use some of our athletic ability. We have to do a great job and its starts with Barnes. They are a veteran team that starts five seniors. They have a lot of older players that have played a lot of minutes.
"Their offensive numbers are staggering but they are so underrated defensively. They just don't make mistakes. They don't gamble. They are tremendous at keeping people in front of you and daring you to shoot."
UAB leads the all-time series against LA Tech 6-4 although the series has been dominated by the visiting team, with eight of the 10 games being won by the team on the road. Wednesday's match-up will be the first one on a neutral floor.
The Blazers defeated LA Tech 71-51 in Ruston in late January in the only meeting of the year between the two programs. Tech led in the third quarter before the Blazers pulled away over the final 15 minutes.
Fans planning to attend the games in Frisco should be aware there is a clear bag policy at the Star.
Thursday, March 19
Tuesday, March 17
Friday, March 13
Wednesday, March 11
