Techsters Battle, Fall Just Short To No. 1 Charlotte
 
RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech battled with the No. 1 team in conference USA for 40 minutes tonight inside the Thomas Assembly Center, but fell just short, 59-56. 
 
LA Tech (14-9, 6-6 C-USA) started out strong on the night building a 17-7 lead after a quick 8-0 run including back-to-back threes from Lotte Sant. 
 

Not a replay - LOTTE AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/HjpA64XroE

— Lady Techsters (@LATechWBB) February 11, 2022

 
From there, Tech saw Charlotte (13-7, 9-1 C-USA) go on a 22-5 tear where the 49ers hit eight shots in a row including 5-5 from three-point range to take a 29-22 lead with 5:56 left in the half.
 
Not only was Charlotte red hot but the Techsters went ice cold during the stretch shooting just 1-10 from the field. Two Kate Thompson free-throws ended the drought, but the half ended with the Techsters down 37-30 against an extremely experience 49ers squad.
 
The Techsters leaned heavily on their two stars in Keiunna Walker and Anna Larr Roberson in the second half. Walker finished with a game-high 22 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two assists extending her double figures streak to 24 games. 
 
Roberson finished the night with 20 points and eight rebounds extending her own double figures streak to 15 games. 
 
An 8-1 run to start the second-half brought the Techsters back into the game tying the contest at 38 with 5:45 to play in the quarter. Tech's defense began to string stops together holding Charlotte without a field goal for over five minutes in the period and found themselves down just three going into the final period (47-44).
 
Late in the fourth, a Walker steal and layup followed by back-to-back buckets from Roberson capped off an 8-0 run to give the Techsters their first lead of the game since first quarter 56-55 with 2:20 left. 
 

The Old Fashioned!!! Let's Go!!!! pic.twitter.com/67eemVl7a1

— Lady Techsters (@LATechWBB) February 11, 2022

 
Charlotte's Molina Williams connected on a mid-range jumper with just 59 seconds remaining to recapture the lead for the 49ers. 
 
The Techsters had a couple opportunities in the final minute to either take the lead or tie including an open look from three at the buzzer, but could not convert seeing Charlotte escape with their sixth conference win decided by five points or less.  
 
NOTABLES

• Charlotte now holds a slim 6-5 lead over the Techsters in the all-time series. 
• The loss snapped the Techsters four-game win streak.
• Keiunna Walker has now scored in double-figures in 24 straight games and is just one of two players in C-USA to have scored in double-figures in every game this season (Savannah Wheeler- Marshall).
• Walker moved into No. 34 on the all-time scoring list passing Shan Moore. She now has 1,187 career points.
• Anna Larr Roberson has scored in double figures in 20 of 22 games this season including 16 straight.
• Tonight was the first game in which Walker and Roberson both scored 20 or more points.
• LA Tech turned the ball over a season low four times. 

UP NEXT
The Lady Techsters will head west for a two game Texas road swing at UTEP and UTSA beginning with UTEP Thursday Feb. 17, at 8:00 p.m. inside the Don Haskins Center.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Lady Techsters Basketball, follow them on Twitter (@LATechWBB), Instagram (@LATechWBB) and Facebook.com/LATechWBB.