MOBILE, Ala. – Louisiana Tech brushed off a slow start on their way to a third straight win. The Lady Techsters beat South Alabama 68-34 on Thursday afternoon inside the Mitchell Center.

Louisiana Tech improved to 5-9, while South Alabama dropped to 7-5.

The first quarter was an offensive struggle for both teams as South Alabama held a 5-3 lead at the media timeout. The Lady Techsters started to put more pressure on the USA ball handlers, and that defense led to better offensive production during an 8-0 run to end the quarter.

The Lady Techsters continued the pressure in the second and extended their lead to double figures. Tech would start the quarter with back-to-back triples, first by Silvia Nativi and then by Salma Bates. The Jaguars wanted to make a run mid-way through, but Robyn Lee would respond with each bucket USA connected on.

The third quarter would see the Lady Techsters start open with a 14-3 run and extend the lead to 24. The Jaguars would put together a 9-2 run of their own before Bates knocked down a jumper at the elbow just as time expired.

The Lady Techsters would grow their lead throughout the fourth quarter and cruise to their third straight win.

Lee, Bates, Autumn Smith, and Anna Larr Roberson would all finish in double figures. Lee led with 16 points and eight rebounds. Bates added 14, Smith had 11, and Roberson finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Kelsey Thompson led the way for South Alabama with eight points.

QUOTABLES

Head coach Brooke Stoehr 
"We just really set the tone defensively early on. You give up a five-point quarter. We weren't very good offensively to start. We took a couple of tough shots and had five or six turnovers in that first quarter. We just needed to do a better job of taking care of the basketball and getting it moving."

"Once we settled in offensively, our ball movement was outstanding. Our defense turned into some offense for us. We scored 28 points off their turnovers, and that's something that this group needs to be able to do. We need to be able to generate some offense that way. We could move the ball, run some shot clock, and force them to defend. We had some great possessions, even when we didn't make the three, like four and five people touched the ball on that possession."

"That's how this group's got to win. We had four in double figures and a couple just outside. That's what we've got to do. We can be balanced, and this group can be successful when that happens.

"You get nervous as a coach around these holiday breaks, and you never know how teams will come out. I've really liked this focus from this group over the last couple of weeks. We've had some tough, tough moments. It's important that this group stays in the fight with each other."

NOTABLES

• LA Tech moved to 23-0 against South Alabama all-time.
• The 34 points were the fewest Tech has given up since giving up 30 against Central Baptist to open last season on Nov. 7, 2022, and the fewest against a D1 opponent since holding UTSA to 30 on Mar. 5, 2020.
• The Lady Techsters forced USA into 24 turnovers, the third time this season an opponent had 20 or more in a game.
• The 28 points off turnovers were the second most this season, behind 44 in the season opener against LSU-Alexandria.
• It was the second time this season the Tech held an opponent to no players in double figures; the other time was against LSU-A.
• The Lady Techsters have made five or more three-pointers in nine games this season.
• The 18 steals were the most by the Lady Techsters since Nov. 22, 2021, when they had 20 against Nicholls.
• Salma Bates surpassed 100 career three-pointers and 800 career points.
• Bates has scored in double figures for the sixth time in the last seven games and 11 games total.
• Anna Larr Roberson surpassed 1,400 career points and sits two behind Monica Maxwell for No. 27 on the all-time scoring list.

UP NEXT
The Lady Techsters play their final non-conference game of the season at Abilene Christian on Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. CT. The game will be live on ESPN+ and KNBB 97.7 FM/LA Tech Athletics App.

LADY TECHSTER 50TH REUNION
Louisiana Tech is celebrating the 50th season of Lady Techster basketball. All former Lady Techster coaches, players, and staff are invited to the celebration held during the CUSA home opener against Sam Houston on Jan. 6, 2024. A reception will be held on Friday, Jan. 5, and formal recognition will be during the game.

RSVP at www.latechalumni.org/Techsters50th.

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