RUSTON – Louisiana Tech wraps up its away-stand against FIU in Ocean Bank Convocation Center at noon on Saturday.
 
GAME INFORMATION:
Date/Time: Thursday, Jan. 24 | 12:00 p.m. CT
Location: Ocean Bank Convocation Center (Miami, Florida)
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Video: ESPN+
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network (97.7 FM) | LA Tech Athletics App
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (12-5, 5-1 CUSA)
The Lady Techsters are coming off their fifth straight win, besting the Missouri State Lady Bears in Springfield 60-51. Louisiana Tech hopped out to an 8-0 lead to start the first quarter, but Missouri State crept back in throughout the quarter, closing the gap to two entering the second quarter. Both teams traded baskets to start the next 10, but the Lady Bears used the media timeout to string together an 8-0 run to grab their first lead of the game. Louisiana Tech answered by scoring seven of the frame's last 10, giving LA Tech a 32-28 lead entering the half. The Lady Techsters bolstered their lead in the third quarter, outscoring MSU 17-11 in the frame, and the Louisiana Tech lead was never in danger in the final frame. MoState's free throws to end the game would only shrink the lead to nine, ending a 60-51 Lady Techsters victory.
 
Paris Bradley scored her second 20-point game of the season, shooting 10-10 from the free throw line while also grabbing five rebounds. Bradley has grabbed at least five rebounds in 13 games this season, including nine of her last 10. It was her third game of shooting at least 10 free throws.
 
Jianna Morris made three of the four Lady Techster three pointers Thursday night, extending her streak to 22 straight games with a three pointer. Morris was second in scoring with 11 points and had a team high three steals.
 
Louisiana Tech held Conference USA leading scorer Kaemyn Bekemeier to seven points, her second lowest scoring effort of the season.
 
The Lady Techsters shot 16-20 from the free throw line, their sixth game shooting at least 80.0 percent from the charity stripe.
 
During the Lady Techsters five game win streak, they have only trailed for 7:09 of game time. It is the first time Louisiana Tech has won five games in a row during conference play since 2023.
 
ABOUT FIU (11-6, 4-2 CUSA)
The FIU Panthers won their fourth straight game Thursday night, besting the Sam Houston Bearkats 66-60. FIU started hot, outscoring the Bearkats 17-8 in the first quarter. Sam Houston rallied in the second, scoring a game high 23 in the second to take a 31-28 lead into the second half. Both teams took turns scoring in the third quarter, but the Panthers took a three point lead into the final frame. Trailing midway through the fourth quarter, FIU put together an 8-0 run to secure the lead, one they would never relinquish. The Panthers secured the 66-60 win at the free throw line, shooting 8-8 in the final 1:39.
 
Parris Atkins led the team with 14 points and added five rebounds and four steals. Denika Lightbourne led the Panthers with seven rebounds while also scoring 11 points and dishing five assists.
 
FIU is the leading scoring team in Conference USA at 75.6 points per game, besting second place Louisiana Tech by 0.6 points. FIU is also the leading free throw team in the country, shooting 27.1 attempts per game and making a fifth place 18.2 per game.
 
The Panthers also boast the number one and number two scorers in Conference USA in Rhema Collins and Parris Atkins. Collins averages 19.1 points and Atkins averages 17.8 points. Collins is also the leading rebounder and blocker in CUSA, grabbing 10.2 rebounds and blocking 1.6 shots per game. The Ole Miss transfer is the only player in the league averaging over 10 rebounds per game.    
 
THE SERIES
Louisiana Tech owns an 18-4 series lead over FIU. Both teams split conference play last season, winning their respective home games. The last matchup was a 69-59 Lady Techster victory in Ruston, highlighted by Jordan Marshall's 16 point and 15 rebound night.
 
Both teams currently boast the two largest active winning streaks in Conference USA, with the Lady Techsters winning their last five and the Panthers winning their last four.
 
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