RUSTON, La. – Friday night saw a match-up of one of Conference USA's top offensive teams against one of the league's top defensive teams in the first of a two-game series between North Texas and Louisiana Tech.
   
Round one went to the defense.

LA Tech (11-6, 6-5 C-USA), ranked No. 2 in C-USA in scoring defense, held North Texas (8-4, 5-2 C-USA), ranked No.3 in scoring, in check as the Lady Techsters defeated the Mean Green 60-55 at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Keiunna Walker scored a game-high 17 points, including hitting 13-of-14 free throws, and LA Tech held North Texas to a season low field goal percentage (29 percent) in snapping a three-game losing streak against the Mean Green.

Tech overcame some offensive adversity of its own by hitting 22-of-25 free throws, including 12-of-12 in the fourth quarter, in the win.

"That was the difference of the game because we weren't very good offensively," said LA Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. "I'm really proud of our effort defensively and on the boards. I was proud of our toughness. We had some really big defensive boards down the stretch. (Quincy) Noble gets 14, but I thought we did a nice job defending her. We did a great job defensively overall. We have some things to correct, but I'm excited for the win and really proud of our effort."

Tech held North Texas 19 points under its season average and the 55 points were the second fewest scored by the Mean Green in a game this year (52 vs. UTEP). North Texas entered game shooting 44 percent from the field and 37 percent from the three-point line, but the Lady Techsters held NT to just 20-of-69 shooting, including just 4-of-28 from deep.

"That's what we wanted," said Stoehr. "We can sit there and say, 'Well, they shoot the three really well,' and they do, but when they're guarded, they're like anybody else that would be shooting a guarded 3-point attempt. We were really good with that. We have to be even better tomorrow."

North Texas led 17-12 at the end of the first quarter and 27-25 at the half, but thanks to a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Raizel Guinto the Lady Techsters took some momentum into the halftime locker room.

"We felt good because we were down just two at the half," said Stoehr. "That was a big momentum play. The difference was (Anna Larr Roberson) stayed in line with the ball on the ball screen and they turned it over to her. That led to the 3-pointer by Raizel. If we can just get them to do what we're asking them to do and everybody does their job, it usually turns out pretty well."

Walker, who hit just 2-of-12 field goals in the game, got to the free throw line in the second half and knocked them down. She also pulled down a career-high nine rebounds to help Tech win the battle of the boards 42-41.

"Walker's rebounds were huge," said Stoehr. "We all look at her 17 points, but her rebounds were huge. She had two really big ones down the stretch with under two minutes tto play that were really, really big. If we can get our guards rebounding like that, we're going to be pretty solid.

"Keiunna is seeing every team's best defender, and they are putting a lot of pressure on her. Teams are trying to force some tough shots. We have to get her to slow down, and we have to get her in good spots. She got to some really good spots (in the second half), and we were able to get her to the free throw line. You'd like to see her finish some of those with and 1's. She is capable and we will just stay positive with her. It will come."

With the two teams tied at 40-40 entering the fourth quarter, Tech outscored North Texas 20-15 over the final 10 minutes. Tech led just 56-55 after a three-pointer by Noble with 1:15 to play, but Walker hit two free throws with 1:07 to play to push the advantage back to three. Following a Noble miss on a potential game-tying three-pointer on the next possession, Amber Dixon drew a foul in the front court and calmly sank two more free throws with 26 seconds to play.

Following a timeout, Tech forced another Noble miss, pulled down the defensive rebound and ran out the clock for the win.

Anna Larr Roberson added her fourth double double of the year with 10 points and 12 rebounds while Dixon added 13 points and Guinto chipped in with 10 points. Roberson, Dixon and Walker combined for all 20 fourth quarter points by LA Tech.

The two teams will meet again Saturday at 4 p.m.