LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Louisiana Tech could not overcome cold shooting and turnovers in the semifinals of the UNLV Thanksgiving Tournament, falling to Illinois State, 70-53, Saturday in Las Vegas, Nev.
Despite a great defensive effort to start the game, Illinois State (5-0) began on a 10-0 due an 0-4 start from the floor and three turnovers to begin the game for LA Tech.
LA Tech (4-2) was only able to manage six points in the first stanza shooting 2-12, but a 6-12 shooting second quarter helped chip away at a 14-point deficit (20-6) with 7:41 to play in the half to nine, thanks to help from Tech's bench.
Mackenzie Wurm made an instant impact hitting two jumpers and
Robyn Lee capped the half with a bucket as time expired bringing the game to single digits,28-19, at the break.
Tech was able to get the game down to two possessions (28-22) in the first two minutes of the third, but quickly found themselves in their largest hole of the season at 25 points, 57-32, with eight minutes to play in the game.
Tech once again turned to its bench, who outscored the Redbirds 21-13 the rest of the way thanks to Gabbie Green's first night in double figures as a Techster. Green finished with a team-high 11 points on 3-4 shooting and 4-5 from the line. Tech's bench contributed 33 points in the loss.
Illinois State was led by former NCAA Division II National Player of the Year Paige Robinson, who had a game-high 19 points on 8-12 shooting. The Redbirds hit 7-12 from deep in the game, including five from Mary Crompton.
Tech shot just 38 percent from the floor and were only 1-11 from deep and finished with 17 turnovers that turned into 17 Illinois State points.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Brooke Stoehr…
"I think the first quarter sums it, scoring six points and going 2-12 from the field. We took a lot of hard shots, settled for jumpers, and couldn't generate offense even when we got some good looks at just didn't' fall.
Sometimes your offense can make it harder on your defense and it becomes harder to get stops when you're working so hard on the offensive end. We got the game to six right after the half, but they go 26-10 on us from there.
They are a really good team and have two good players that can really score, and they were better than us today. Bottom line we have to be better, look at ourselves, and ask how do we get better? We won't win many games when Keiunna and Anna Larr go 3-19."
NOTABLES
• LA Tech is now 5-2 in the all-time series and Illinois State.
• The Redbirds evened the series on neutral floors at 1-1.
• Tech is now 182-73 all-time at neutral sites.
•
Anna Larr Roberson now has seven or more rebounds in five of six games.
• Siliva Nativi had five assists and no turnovers, she now has 28 assists to seven turnovers on the year.
• Mackenzie Wurm had a season-high six points.
• Autumn Smith notched a career-high two assists.
• Anja Bukvic registered her first career steal.
• Gabbie Green scored in double figures for the first time as a Lady Techster, with 11 points.
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech will play George Washington on the final day of the UNLV Thanksgiving tournament for third-place Sunday, November 27 at 3:30 p.m. CT inside the Cox Pavilion.
There will be no live stream for the tournament, but the game can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network app.
ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON (4-3)
George Washington comes into Sunday's third-place game after a first-round win over ETSU (78-58) and semifinal loss to host UNLV earlier today, 73-63.
The Colonials it to the A10 Conference championship after wins over St. Bonaventure and La Salle before falling to VCU.
They are led by Mia Lakstigala (14.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Mayowa Taiwo (7.0 ppg, 9.8 rpg). Taiwo was named to the A10 Preseason Third Team and All-Defensive Team this season.
George Washington is shooting 39.4 percent from three while averaging 68.4 ppg.
THE SERIES
This will be the first-ever meeting on the hardwood between LA Tech and George Washington
SOCIAL MEDIA
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