RUSTON – Conference USA champions Louisiana Tech head on the road for the final time of the regular season to face Sam Houston in Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum Saturday afternoon.

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 28 | 2:00 p.m. CT
Location: Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum | Huntsville, Texas.
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Video: ESPN+
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network (97.7 FM) | LA Tech Athletics App
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (21-5, 14-1 CUSA)
The Lady Techsters hop back on I20 after defeating Jacksonville State and Kennesaw State in their fourth away-stand sweep of the season. Against the Owls, Louisiana Tech secured their first outright conference title since 2011, besting Kennesaw State 63-59 in VyStar Arena last Saturday.
 
LA Tech trailed early, being behind at both the first media and at the end of the first quarter. Jianna Morris would hit a triple to start the second frame for the Lady Techsters to take a 19-18 lead. Both teams traded baskets with only one miss in 10 combined possessions. However, fatigue started to settle in on the Owls, having only dressed seven players, closing the quarter on a four minute scoring drought. Louisiana Tech took a seven point lead into the locker room, outscoring KSU 21-12 in the second quarter.
 
The Owls fought back in the penultimate frame, forcing Louisiana Tech into tough shots. Kennesaw State came back from seven down to tie the game with less than two minutes to play. LA Tech shot 3-13 from the field and turned the ball over seven times in the frame. Both teams fought for possession of the lead in the fourth quarter, tying twice before the final media timeout. Paris Bradley's triple late would shut the door, while Jianna Morris's three field goals would slam it, leading Louisiana Tech to a 63-59 victory.
 
With the victory, Louisiana Tech secured at least a share of the regular season CUSA title, their 38^th conference title in program history. After Sam Houston and Middle Tennessee losses later in the day, the Lady Techsters secured sole possession of the title, their first conference title since 2011 in the Western Athletic Conference.
 
The Lady Techsters have won their last eight road games and are undefeated on the road in conference play. LA Tech is the only team with more than five wins on the road in CUSA, winning by an average margin of 14.5 and as much as 39 against UTEP.
 
Louisiana Tech have had the most potent offense in CUSA this season. LA Tech leads the league in points per game (73.7), field goal percentage (44.6), assists (16.7), and assist/turnover ratio (1.01). The Lady Techsters are also second in three-point percentage at 34.7 percent. Louisiana Tech has four players who average over 10 points a game and three who average over three assists per game, the only team in CUSA.  
 
Jianna Morris has made a three pointer in 32 straight games, dating back to last season. Morris is the only player in Conference USA to make a three pointer in every game this season.
 
ABOUT SAM HOUSTON (16-10, 9-6 CUSA)
Sam Houston is returning from Springfield, Missouri, suffering a defeat at the hands of Missouri State, their second road loss in a row.
 
Missouri State opened strong, taking an eight point lead to end the first quarter. Midway through the third quarter, that lead stretched to as much as 16. Sam Houston rallied in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to five in the final two minutes. The Lady Bears tempered the storm, hitting timely shots on the court and at the line to hold that five point lead into the final buzzer, winning 60-55.
 
Fanta Kone led the Bearkats with 12 points, her sixth straight double-figure outing. Aysia Ward-Strong grabbed a team high eight rebounds while also dishing in 10 points.
 
As a squad, Sam Houston stole the ball 12 times, led by Kone's four, and forced 24 turnovers.
 
Forcing turnovers is Sam Houston's superpower. The Bearkats force 25.8 turnovers a game, the fourth most in the country. Sam Houston also steal the ball at the eighth highest clip in the country at 13.7 times per game. The Bearkats have forced at least 20 turnovers in every game this season except two and have recorded at least 10 steals in every game except four.
 
Sam Houston leads CUSA in defense on the season, only allowing 58.3 points per game.
 
Kone leads the Bearkats with 12.9 points per game, 89 steals, and 117 assists. Her 4.7 assists per game sits at second in the league and her 3.4 steals per game sits 14^th in the country.
 
THE SERIES
Louisiana Tech owns a 6-2 series lead over Sam Houston. The last matchup came in Ruston on January 2^nd, the first conference game of the season for either team. LA Tech rallied late, but lost 67-64 after committing 25 turnovers, the season high. It is the only conference loss of the season for Louisiana Tech.
 
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