LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Paris Bradley and Jianna Morris had more than 20 points for the second consecutive game. However, that was not enough, as Louisiana Tech fell to New Mexico State 87-80 on Thursday night in the Pan American Center.
 
Bradley got the scoring going for LA Tech (14-14, 7-10) with a three from the wing and a jumper to give the Techsters a 5-0 lead. New Mexico State (16-14, 9-8) went on a 7-0 run to gain the lead two minutes later. The two teams would go back and forth until the media timeout came at the three-minute mark.
 
From that point, the Aggies went on a 15-0 run from the end of the first and beginning of the second to grab a 29-16 lead.
 
Bradley and Morris kept the Lady Techsters in the game, combining for 12 of the 15 Tech points in the second. A Jordan Marshall basket with 55 seconds before halftime cut the lead down to five, but NMSU hit two free throws to take a 38-31 lead into the locker room.
 
The two teams remained even through the third quarter, with the Techsters outscoring the Aggies 17-16.
 
New Mexico State pushed the lead to nine on a three at the start of the fourth. Bradley and Morris continued to keep the Techsters within striking distance. Averi Aaron knocked down a three from the top of the key to cut the deficit to four at 65-61. The Aggies responded with an 8-2 run to push it back to 10.
 
Jordan Marshall ended the run with a three-pointer to make it 73-66 with just under three minutes to go. The Lady Techsters would pull within five at 82-77, but the Aggies would hit free throws down the stretch to end the game.
 
Louisiana Tech shot 51.0 percent from the field (26-51), 45.0 from behind the arc (9-20), and 70.4 from the free throw line (19-27). Bradley finished with 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Morris had 20 points and finished 5-8 from long range. Marshall nearly had a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds.
 
New Mexico State finished 47.5 percent from the field (29-61), 36.8 from deep (7-19), and 81.5 from the line (22-27). Molly Kaiser had 35 points to lead the Aggies. Lucia Yenes scored 18 points, and Jaila Harding had 16.

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Brooke Stoehr
 
" I was disappointed in our commitment to the defensive end and our scout specific assignments of team defending with the attention you have to give Kaiser. They took advantage of it and got going early because of some clean looks. We had too many turnovers in the first half that led to transition for them. In order to win on the road you have to defend, rebound and take care of the ball. We have to take more pride in the defensive end of the floor. We had multiple opportunities late in the game to get it to 1 possession and couldn't get a stop. We have to find a way to bounce back quickly and get prepared for Saturday."

NOTABLES

• Paris Bradley's six 20-point games moves her past Tamicha Jackson (96-97) for the seventh most by a Lady Techster freshman.
• Paris Bradley has an assist in every game this season.
• Paris Bradley is 34 points away from tying Tamicha Jackson for the 10th most points by a freshman for the Lady Techsters.
• It is the first time a Lady Techster scored 20+ points in three straight games since Keiunna Walker did it in four straight from January 5, 2023-January 14, 2023.
• Jordan Marshall is nine rebounds away from tying Angela Turner for the 10th most by a Lady Techster freshman.
• The five three pointers by Jianna Morris set a career high.
• LA Tech outrebounded their opponent for the 20th time.
• Louisiana Tech dropped to 18-13 all-time against New Mexico State.

 
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech will close out the regular season on Saturday as the Lady Techsters take on UTEP in the Don Haskins Center. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
 
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