EL PASO, Texas – Louisiana Tech dominated with their best offensive effort of league play, defeating UTEP 87-48 in the Don Haskins Center on Thursday night, its ninth win in a row.
 
Jianna Morris and Alexia Weaver found gold in the three-point shot early, giving the Lady Techsters an 8-5 lead heading into the first media. However, UTEP would tie the game twice at the free throw line, eventually taking a 13-12 lead to the benches. It marks the first time during the Lady Techsters win streak that they trailed after a quarter. The Miners went 6/6 at the line while Louisiana Tech shot 26.7 percent from the field.

Louisiana Tech continued to struggle to start the second quarter, shooting 1-7 from the field while the Miners extended their lead to 18-14. Paris Bradley picked up a crucial second foul before the second media, forcing the leading LA Tech scorer to the bench. Then Jianna Morris happened. Jianna Morris would rattle four three pointers, scoring 14 points in the frame to spark a 14-0 Louisiana Tech run. Alexia Weaver would add another triple at the buzzer for good measure, giving the Lady Techsters a 36-22 lead running through the tunnel. Louisiana Tech shot 75 percent from the three point line, scoring 24 points in the frame. LA Tech made eight of their last nine shots
 
Morris had 17 points in the first half, the most points she has scored in a conference game. The junior guard was 5-7 from downtown, tying her career high for the most makes in a game.
 
The Lady Techsters continued the scoring, running out to a 15-7 run entering the first media of the half. Shots fell at will, shooting 71.4 percent from the field after seven minutes in the quarter. Jayden Terry's layup towards the end of the frame stretched the lead to 30, also securing the third game in a row with 10 different Lady Techster scorers. Nine would score in the third alone, leading to a 28 point quarter, the best of the game.
 
The fourth quarter was more of the same; offense, offense, offense. The lead ballooned to as much as 42 and never fell below 30 with LA Tech scoring 23 points in the frame, their third 20-plus point quarter in a row. Joy Madison-Key continued to provide a spark off the bench, scoring 10 points in seven minutes in the quarter.
 
Jianna Morris had her best game of the season, scoring a career high 21 points and tying her career high with five triples. It was the first 20 point game by a Lady Techster in six games and the fourth 20 point game in the Sherwood, Arkansas native's career. Morris shot 70 percent from the field, shooting 5-7 from deep.

Alexia Weaver contributed in all facets, dishing a team high six assists while hitting four triples and grabbing three boards.

QUOTABLES
Head coach Brooke Stoehr
I thought our group did a nice job of staying the course after a slow start offensively. We got some stops but just could not take advantage of a couple of transition opportunities. They continued to defend and then got going offensively. Ji and Lex were knocking down three's and were making some good reads that got us going. That gave us momentum heading into halftime. Paris got us going with the and-1 to start the third and we kept attacking and sharing the ball. We put them at the free throw line too much and needed to clean that up. I was pleased with the way our group played each possession and competed to the standard we are asking them to. We showed some growth from last week's two games in that aspect

Looking ahead to New Mexico State
It is a very quick turnaround against a very solid New Mexico State group. They defend very well and are well coached. We have to be ready to defend, rebound and take care of the basketball.

NOTABLES

• Trailing 13-12 after the first quarter is the first time LA Tech has trailed after a quarter during their win streak.
• Jianna Morris made five three pointers in the first half, tying her career high of five in only 20 minutes.
• Louisiana Tech have had 10 players score in three straight games.
• Jianna Morris surpassed her career high of 20 points with 21 points against UTEP.
• Louisiana Tech assisted 22 times on 33 field goals, their ninth time this season assisting at least 20 times.
• Paris Bradley scored 14 points, extending her streak to 13 games in a row in double-figure scoring.
• The Lady Techsters shot 53.2 percent from the field, their second highest mark this season.
• Louisiana Tech shot 61.9 percent from three, the highest mark of the season.
• LA Tech made 13 three pointers, the most of the season.
• Jianna Morris made five three pointers, extending her streak to 27 straight games with a three pointer.
• 87 points is the most by the Lady Techsters since scoring 97 against Central Baptist in December.

UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech hops on I-10 north for 45 miles to face New Mexico State Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+.

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