Louisiana Tech University
FIU
Preview: LA Tech vs. FIU
1/31/2024 1:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech returns to the Thomas Assembly Center for a matchup with FIU at 6 p.m. on Thursday on ESPN+.
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 1 | 6 p.m. CT
Location: Thomas Assembly Center (Ruston, La.)
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Lyn Rollins (PxP), Victor Howell (analyst)
Radio: KNBB 97.7 FM | LA Tech Athletics app
Talent: Kyle Roberts
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (8-13, 2-4)
Down 17 halfway through the third quarter, LA Tech made a ferocious comeback to send the game into overtime but would fall 66-64 to New Mexico State at the Pan American Center on Saturday.
Anja Bukvic led the Lady Techsters with 18 points, her third career-high in the past four games. Over that stretch, Bukvic is averaging 12 a game while adding 3.0 boards, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. The Serbian native has doubled her season average and surpassed 100 career points.
Another major factor in the Lady Techster's comeback was Jianna Morris, who chipped in with a career night of her own. Morris had her sixth double-figure scoring game of the season with a new career-best 17 points and tied her career-high with six rebounds. The freshman added four assists and a steal.
Senior forward Anna Larr Roberson continues to write her name in the Lady Techster record book. Roberson finished the game with 11 points, making her the 22nd Tech player with 1,500 career points. She is just 21 rebounds shy of becoming the 15th Lady Techster with 1,500 points and 900 rebounds.
Tech has been balanced on the offensive side of the court all season. The Lady Techsters are averaging 24.3 points in the paint, 19.6 from long range, and 19.0 from mid-range. The 130 three-pointers are the most through the first 21 games in Lady Techster history.
ABOUT FIU (14-6, 5-1)
FIU enters the contest, having dropped the first Conference USA game of the season against Middle Tennessee. Before that, the Panthers had won eight straight and have matched their win total from last season.
The Panthers have been the surprise team in CUSA so far. They were picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll but are currently in second with a 5-1 record.
FIU has a balanced attack that has led them to 71.0 points per game, second in the conference. Led by James Madison transfer Mya Kone (11.8), the Panthers have five players averaging over 8.0 per game.
Kone is also a force on the defensive side of the ball. The forward ranks fifth in the league with 23 blocks and a 1.15 per game average. She also grabs 7.6 boards a game and has 152 rebounds on the season; both are No. 6 in CUSA.
The catalyst for the Panthers offense is junior guard Tanajah Hayes. Hayes is second in the league with 4.1 assists per game and leads with a 1.85 assists-to-turnover ratio, 84th in the country. She also contributes 2.0 steals and 8.3 points per game.
THE SERIES
Thursday's matchup will be the 18th meeting between the two programs. Louisiana Tech is 17-1 in those games and is 9-0 in games at the Thomas Assembly Center. The lone Panther win came during the 2017-18 season in Miami.
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