HUNTSVILLE, Ala. –  Lockdown second half defense propels Louisiana Tech past Liberty 61-48, advancing them to the title game Saturday afternoon.
 
The Lady Techsters struck first in the match, but Liberty quickly gained control with an 11-0 run over the next four minutes. Jordan Marshall's layup ended the drought for LA Tech, the first basket in eight attempts for the team. Paris Bradley would connect from deep twice in the frame, closing the Flames lead to five with three minutes to go. Kaleigh Thompson would add in the third triple of the game for the Lady Techsters, closing the quarter on a 6-2 LA Tech run to close the gap to 17-13.
 
Louisiana Tech started the second quarter with a 6-2 run to tie the game at 19-19, but Liberty continued to push ahead, leading by as much as eight after the tie. Liberty would shoot 6-8 in that stretch while the Lady Techsters would not make a field goal for four minutes. Marshall's layup off a Madison-Key dime would be the final basket of the frame with Liberty leading 31-25.
 
In the first half, Liberty outrebounded Louisiana Tech 13-10 and out assisted 8-3. Bradley led the way with six points while Marshall grabbed three rebounds. Louisiana Tech only led for 20 seconds.
 
The Lady Techsters, the best defense in CUSA, showed why that was the case in the second half. Liberty started the frame 0-7 from the field while Bradley closed the gap to two with a scoop-n-score layup. Both teams would go scoreless for three minutes, then Alexia Weavers free throws would tie the game yet again, 34-34. The Lady Techsters offense just could not break through, surrendering a lead to the Flames two more times to close the frame, trailing 39-38 entering the final quarter. Louisiana Tech held Liberty to eight points and 2-11 from the field in the third quarter.
 
The final frame was all Louisiana Tech. Jianna Morris nailed all three of her free throws after being fouled on her triple attempt, giving the Lady Techsters their first lead since 2-0 early in the first. That lead would never be surrendered. The free throws sparked a 9-0 run for LA Tech, giving the Lady Techsters a 46-39 lead entering the media. An Avery Mills triple would close the gap to 48-46, but Louisiana Tech would close the game on a 13-2 run with a Paris Bradley dagger at 1:17 to get the lead back to double-figures. Morris's free throws would cap the game with a 61-48 Lady Techsters victory, propelling them to the championship game tomorrow afternoon. Liberty mustered only nine points in the final frame against the stout LA Tech defense, being outscored by 14. Louisiana Tech led for 9:24 of the fourth quarter.
 
In the second half, Liberty only managed 17 points, the same they scored in the first quarter alone. The Flames shot 6-27, a 22.2 percent clip. Meanwhile, the Lady Techsters were 18-25 from the free throw line, shooting 9-11 in the fourth quarter.
 
Marshall and Bradley tied for the lead with 14 points, both shooting 5-10 from the field. Bradley had four tiples while Marshall had six rebounds, the team high.
 
The Lady Techsters will play tomorrow in the Conference USA Championship.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Brooke Stoehr
Unbelievably gritty, tough win by our team tonight. I thought Liberty played well tonight so give them credit. They are a well coached team and several of those players were a part of a championship last year. I cannot say enough about the toughness and resilience of our group to comeback and defend the way they did in the second half. That is who this group has grown into since July. We just told them to stick to who they have been all year. It is such a beautiful thing to watch them celebrate, love and serve each other the way they do.
 
The job is not finished. Positive discontent as we get ready to compete for 40 minutes together tomorrow.
 
NOTABLES

• Liberty's 17 points in the second half are the least points Louisiana Tech have allowed in the second half to a DI opponent since holding UAB to 17 on February 12^th, 2021.
• Paris Bradley shot 4-8 from three, making 11 triples so far this tournament.
• Bradley tied with Marshall for the scoring title with 14 points, making it the fifth game of the last six with Bradley as the leading scorer.
• Louisiana Tech is making its second CUSA title game in its history, the last coming in 2022.
• It is the 23^rd conference tournament championship game that Louisiana Tech has been a part of, winning 16 of them.
• This was the first game since last season that Jianna Morris did not make a three. Morris had the third longest active streak in Division I at 36 games in a row.
• Bradley has made the most three pointers by a sophomore in program history with 66.
• 22 free throw makes on 29 free throw attempts are both the third most by Louisiana Tech this season.  

UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech will face Missouri State in the Conference USA Championship tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on CBS Sports Network.
 
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