FRISCO, Texas | Louisiana Tech women's basketball fell to UTEP in the Quarterfinals of the Conference USA tournament Thursday, 64-54, despite erasing a 13-point first-half deficit and grabbing a three-point lead in the third.
Keiunna Walker lead the Techsters with 19 points and five rebounds, hitting all nine free-throw attempts.
Anna Larr Roberson joined Walker in double figures with 12 points and added four rebounds.
Silvia Nativi posted an all-around stat line with four points, six rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and two steals.
In the first, UTEP (20-10, 12-8 C-USA) grabbed a quick 4-2 lead, but a 7-0 run by LA Tech (19-12, 12-8) C-USA) gave the Techsters a 9-4 lead 4:32 into the game. The teams traded buckets over the next four minutes, but the Miners scored the last four of the period to give Tech a 16-15 lead.
Both sides continued to trade blows throughout the second period. After a
Keiunna Walker three with 2:45 left in the half to tie the game at 28, UTEP rattled off a 10-0 run to end the first 20 minutes with a 38-28 lead. However, Tech had three buckets taken off the board due to offensive foul calls that left Tech with just one field goal in the final 5:30 of the period.
After UTEP hit a three to start the third stanza and grab their largest lead (41-28), Tech rallied for a 9-0 run to cut the lead to four with 6:12 left in the period. Then, Tech added a 7-0 that included a big three from Walker to regain the lead, 44-43, inside two minutes. After that, Tech would hold UTEP to eight third-quarter points to erase the halftime deficit and send the game into the fourth knotted at 46.
To start the fourth, Walker hit two free throws to give Tech a two-point lead, but the Miners' 11-4 spurt gave them a five-point edge (57-52) with three minutes remaining. However, Tech could only muster two Walker free throws over the final four minutes as UTEP hit five free throws to pull away over the final stretch.
UTEP scored 40 of their 64 in the paint and picked up 23 big bench points. Tech only mustered 24 in the paint and nine from its bench. The Miners held a slight edge in rebounding (41-38) and hit 25 field goals (25-64, .391) to Tech's 18 (18-56, .321).
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Brooke Stoehr…
"We knew it was going to be a battle today. Unfortunately, we didn't make enough plays to finish it. I love how we battled back to erase the first-half deficit and regain the lead, but ultimately, we didn't get the scores and stops to hold them off late.
We knew they would be tough inside today and really hurt us there. Arike was really good for them, and you have to credit her and this UTEP team.
I feel like this is a post-season team, and we look forward to potentially getting a chance to continue the season next week with a bid in the WNIT."
NOTABLES
• LA Tech falls to 16-11 in the all-time series with UTEP.
•
Keiunna Walker scored in double figures for the 25
th straight game with 19. Walker grabbed five rebounds and surpassed 500 for her career. She also drew her 50
th charge of the season.
•
Mackenzie Wurm grabbed her 100
th career rebound; she had two in the game. She also registered her 50th career block.
•
Lotte Sant grabbed her 100th career offensive rebound.
•
Silvia Nativi had a career-high three blocks.
•
Anna Larr Roberson reached double figures for the 15
th time this season with 12 points.
•
Salma Bates registered four assists, giving her 22 games this season of three-plus.
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech will await a potential at-large bid for the 2023 WNIT next week. The WNIT Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, Mar. 12.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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