RUSTON – Another dominant fourth quarter propels the first place Lady Techsters ahead of the Panthers in the Thomas Assembly Center, 71-49, their 11^th win in a row.
 
It was yet again another slow start for both teams with neither scoring a basket in the first two minutes. FIU would take a brief lead 3-2 after a layup until Jordan Marshall scored six straight to take an 8-5 lead to the benches for the first media timeout. Both defenses made the offense uncomfortable, forcing each team to turn the ball over four times in less than three minutes. Jianna Morris's three-ball would give the Lady Techsters a 15-11 lead with two minutes to play, but would not score the remainder of the quarter. Paris Bradley and leading CUSA scorer Rhema Collins would pick up two and three fouls, respectively.
 
Louisiana Tech pushed the lead, starting the second quarter on a 12-3 run while outrebounding FIU 8-1. After a 4:16 drought for the Panthers, the Lady Techsters would go on a four minute field goal drought themselves. Alexia Weaver's free throws with four seconds left pushed the lead back to 10, 34-24 Louisiana Tech. Paris Bradley and Rhema Collins did not play in the second quarter.
 
In the first half, there were a combined 25 fouls and 28 turnovers. Jordan Marshall lead Louisiana Tech with nine points and five rebounds, shooting 5-6 from the free throw line. Both teams only made one three-pointer each, a combined 2-21.
 
Jianna Morris started the third with another triple, her second of the game. FIU fought back shortly after, ripping a 7-0 run to force a Lady Techster timeout as the lead dwindled from 13 to seven. Both offenses struggled from then on, only scoring 11 each throughout the quarter. Through three quarters, Bradley and Weaver were a combined 0-12 with nine turnovers.
 
The Lady Techsters explosive offense showed its face once again in the final frame, scoring the first seven points in the first minute. Morris nailed her third triple of the game to push the lead to 20, then Weaver nailed another to push it to 23. Weaver's three capped of the 20^th point for Louisiana Tech in the frame, only taking 5:11 of game time. The offense slowed down, but the defense continued to hound, only letting FIU score seven points in the final five minutes. Weaver and Morris combined for 17 points, shooting 5-6 from three.
 
Despite not making a field goal until the fourth quarter, Alexia Weaver tied with Jianna Morris for the point title with 14 each. Jordan Marshall had a team high nine rebounds while Joy Madison-Key led with three assists, the lowest assists needed to lead since Jan. 22.
 
The Lady Techsters defense held FIU to one three pointer on 20 attempts, their fourth time in conference play to hold teams to only one triple. It is the lowest three point percentage Louisiana Tech has allowed this season at only 5.0 percent.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Brooke Stoehr
I am really proud of our group for staying the course on a night where we did not play as clean as we have been playing and faced some foul trouble. They really stayed consistent with who they have become as a team when it mattered most. It was hard to get any sort of rhythm and flow offensively with the turnovers and stoppages in play. I thought we got some stops at critical times and were finally able to get out in transition in the fourth quarter. Ji and Lex hit some big threes in that stretch. We have so much confidence in their ability to make shots. We told them to keep shooting it because the next one was going in. I am so proud of them for trusting the work they have put in and then seeing them go through the net in that fourth quarter. FIU forces you to play that way, and we just needed to play with some poise and keep hunting good shots. There will be some things we need to clean up before Saturday with another really tough opponent in Missouri State coming into the TAC. We have not be locked in and ready for another tough battle.
 
Guard Jianna Morris
Our energy in the second half really got us going, especially when the shots started to fall. We just had to trust the work we have put in and keep going.

Forward Jordan Marshall
I was locked in on defense, rebounding, and being there for my team. This team helps keep me focused and play with a lot of energy. We have a true, genuine love for each other.
 
NOTABLES

• Louisiana Tech held FIU to 1 three pointer on 20 attempts, the lowest percentage of the year (5.0) and the fourth time in conference play holding a team to only one three.
• Despite not making a field goal in the first 30 minutes of the game, Alexia Weaver finished tied with Jianna Morris with 14 points, the most on the team
• The Lady Techsters outscored FIU in every category except points in the paint, tying at 26.
• LA Tech's bench outscored FIU's 21-10, their seventh conference game with at least 20 bench points.
• Alexia Weaver and Jianna Morris combined for 17 points in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, shooting 5-6 from three.
• Paris Bradley finished the game with three points and no field goals, both career lows.
• There were a combined 50 fouls and 48 turnovers, both season highs.
• Louisiana Tech was 24-29 from the free throw line, the second most makes of the season and third most attempts.
• FIU's Rhema Collins, the leading scorer in CUSA, only scored five points, her lowest this season.
• Jianna Morris has made a three pointer in 29 straight games.

UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech stays in Ruston to face the Missouri State Lady Bears on Valentine's Day Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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