BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Keiunna Walker and Amber Dixon each registered 20-plus point performances to lead Louisiana Tech to a convincing 75-51 victory over UAB Friday afternoon at Bartow Arena in Conference USA action.

Tech (12-7, 7-6 C-USA) overcame a two-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Blazers (7-10, 2-9) 43-17 in the third and fourth quarters in large part to the play of the duo of guards.

Dixon recorded her third double double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds and added five assists as the Arlington, Texas, native played one of her most complete games of the season.

"We saw that from (Amber) a little bit last weekend," said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. "That was a carryover to practice this week. She was really locked in mentally all week long. It's a little thing nobody else knows but our team, but talking in the huddle last Friday night was almost like a turning point for her and got her locked in and engaged. A simple little thing like that.

"Then, just being aggressive. She was balanced. She had a very complete game. As a senior, that's what you want as you run into your stretch run of conference play. It was a carryover from last weekend and this week's practices."

The Lady Techsters trailed 34-32 at halftime after allowing UAB to hit six three-pointers in the opening two quarters. However, Tech clamped down defensively in the final 20 minutes, holding UAB to just 6-of-30 shooting from the field.

"We didn't defend well at all in the first half," said Stoehr. "We didn't communicate very well. They moved the ball well, and we didn't do a very good job which gave them some open looks. They hurt us in transition early on and we got that settled and situated in the second half. I thought we really defended well after halftime and did a great job on the glass."

UAB guard Margaret Whitley entered the game averaging 22 points per contest, but Tech held her to 13 points on just 5-of-17 shooting, including 3-of-10 from the three-point line. Whitley scored 10 points in the first half but was just 1-of-7 from the field for three points in the second half.

Tech also controlled the glass, especially in the second half, winning the rebounding battle 41-32. In addition to Dixon's 10 rebounds, Anna Larr Roberson added nine boards and Walker chipped in with six rebounds.

"Keiunna got to the free throw line by playing under control in the second half," said Stoehr. "She was in a really good space this week, mentally, with her attacks and what we're looking for and doing some of those things and keeping it simple. Her change of pace and tempo was really big today. She goes to the free throw line and goes 8-of-9. She had a number of big boards for us as well."

Roberson, who was held scoreless in the first half, scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds playing against UAB's Zakyia Weathersby, the conference rebounding leader. Weathersby was held to eight points and nine boards.

"Anna Larr was a big part of our second half run," said Stoehr. "She scored inside. We went to her inside. She was active on the glass. She had nine today. She and Bri both did a good job on (Zakyia) Weathersby.

"Anna Larr really sparked us during that stretch. We kept going to her and kept feeding her and then they took Weathersby out and we felt we had a size advantage with them in there and continued to go."

Tech shot 48 percent (30-62) from the field in the game and committed a season-low six turnovers in the game. The Lady Techsters outscored UAB 46-18 on points in the paint.

The two teams will play the second game of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be on ESPN+ and can be heard on KNBB 99.3 FM.