RUSTON – The Lady Techsters open the Conference USA Tournament against the fifth seed Jacksonville State on Thursday, March 14, at 11:30 a.m. CT in VBC Propst Arena. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time:Â Thursday, March 14 | 11:30 a.m. CT
Location:Â VBC Propst Arena (Huntsville, Ala.)
TV:Â ESPN+
Talent:Â Noah Frary (PxP), Kelley Deyo (analyst)
Radio:Â KNBB 97.7 FMÂ | LA Tech Athletics app
Talent:Â Kyle Roberts
Stats:Â LATechSports.com/Stats
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (13-18, 7-9)
The Lady Techsters have hit their stride at the right time heading into the CUSA Tournament. Tech has won four of its last five and six of its last seven, including a 61-51 win over Jacksonville State on Feb. 15 in Jacksonville.
Four Lady Techsters earned All-CUSA honors, headlined by Anna Larr Roberson. Roberson picked up her third consecutive postseason award and her first as a member of the First Team. She ranks 19th on the Lady Techsters' all-time scoring list with 1,624 career points and is just the 13th player with 1,500 points and 900 rebounds.
Salma Bates was named CUSA honorable mention after having a stellar season. The Kenner native averages 10.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists a game. She has nearly tripled her 3-point total from last season and has doubled her career total at Tech. Bates sits at No. 7 for 3-pointers made in a single season in LA Tech history.
Freshman Jianna Morris and Paris Guillory continue to have a solid opening act for their Lady Techster careers. Both were named to the CUSA All-Freshman team.
Morris has started all 31 games at point guard for the Lady Techsters and is fourth on the team with 6.6 points a contest. She also adds 3.1 boards, 2.4 assists, and 1.0 steals a game while also taking on the role of defending the opposing team's star guard.
Guillory broke onto the scene after hitting four 3-pointers against Louisiana Christian but would miss 10 games before conference play. Since returning, she has continued to provide a spark off the bench. She averages 6.0 points and 2.1 boards a game while shooting 41.3 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from long range.
ABOUT JACKSONVILLE STATE (12-16, 7-9)
Jacksonville State has won three of its previous four contests, including an 80-63 win over FIU and a 74-70 victory over Sam Houston, to secure the fifth seed in the tournament.
The Gamecocks' offense is one of the most balanced in the league. They have 11 players averaging between 4.0 and 8.4 points a game. Bre'Anna Rhodes leads the way with 8.4, while Kristol Ayson averages 8.0.
Rhodes has been known to be in foul trouble, but when on the floor, she has shown to be a scorer. She scored a season-high 20 against Alabama State and 16 against FIU and Sam Houston during the Gamecocks' current streak.
Ayson is a transfer from Arizona Western who has been a consistent scorer throughout the season. She has nine games in double figures, with five coming in conference action.
Jax State also hits the glass in an all-out team effort. Seven players average over 3.5 boards a game, with six of those at 4.0 or more.
THE SERIES
LA Tech won the only two matchups between the two programs, 67-53 in Ruston on Jan. 20 and 61-51 in Jacksonville on Feb. 15.
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