RUSTON - Louisiana Tech hosts UTEP in the final game of the regular season, celebrating senior Mackenzie Wurm and the regular season conference championship.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Saturday, March 7 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Thomas Assembly Center
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Video: ESPN+
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network (97.7 FM) | LA Tech Athletics App
Tickets: LATechSports.com/Tickets
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (23-5, 15-1 CUSA)
The Lady Techsters dominated New Mexico State Thursday night, winning their 16th game in a row 88-47. LA Tech scored 20 points in every quarter but the third, scoring 19, including a 27 point fourth quarter to seal the victory.
 
The Aggies struck first, but the Lady Techsters answered with a 14-3 run to take the lead. Louisiana Tech would start the next three quarters with runs of 13-0, 11-3, and 10-0 to keep NM State out of reach. LA Tech led by as much as 21 in the second quarter and ended the game with a 41 point margin, the second largest by a CUSA team during league play.
 
Six Lady Techsters scored in double figures, led by Jianna Morris and her 19 points. Morris shot 4-6 from deep, her 21st game this season in double figures and the eighth game with at least four triples. Paris Bradley nearly notched a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, adding in five steals. 
 
Louisiana Tech outscored New Mexico State 46-19 in the second half. The Lady Techsters also scored 31 points from turnovers and outscored NM State 18-0 in fast breaks. 
 
16 wins in a row ties the longest win streak in CUSA the last 25 years, last done by 2023-24 Middle Tennessee. It is the longest streak by Louisiana Tech since 2003. 
 
Morris has been one of the most reliable three point shooters in the country. The guard from Sherwood, Arkansas has already broken the record for the most triples by a junior in program history. Her 77 three pointers is the third most in a season in program history and trails leader Aarica Ray-Boyd by 9.
 
As a team, Louisiana Tech has been dominant from the three point line. With 208 three-pointers on the season, the Lady Techsters set a new program record for the most three-pointers in a season. Morris leads the team with 77, followed by Paris Bradley with 53 and Alexia Weaver with 52. The trio make up 87.5 percent of the teams three point baskets. 
 
23 victories and 15 conference victories are both the most since the 2010-11 season. 
 
Paris Bradley was named to the All-Academic Team on Thursday afternoon. The sophomore guard has a 3.775 GPA in Graphic Design. Bradley is the lone player in CUSA to average 14.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, and 3.0 apg. 
 
Mackenzie Wurm is the lone senior being celebrated this season. The Allen, Texas native appeared in 82 games over her five year career, rejecting 81 shots in her first three years. Wurm graduates with her MBA this summer and is a four time CUSA Commissioners Honor Roll recipient.
 
The Lady Techsters will be celebrating their 38th conference championship after the game. 
 
ABOUT UTEP (13-15, 5-12 CUSA)
The Miners come to Ruston on a two game loss streak, falling to Sam Houston 71-59 in Huntsville, Texas. 
 
Sam Houston won the opening quarter 18-15 and used offensive rebounding and points off turnovers to take a larger lead into halftime. UTEP sparked late in the third, sparking an 8-0 run to cut the lead to three, but a late Bearkat basket gave Sam Houston a 48-43 lead into the final 10 minutes. The Miners closed the gap to one point, but the Bearkats paint dominance and chaotic defense allowed them to get the lead back to double-figures, winning 71-59.
 
UTEP shot 40.7 from the field and 40.0 percent from three, but Sam Houston outpaced the Miners in points from turnovers (21-7), points in the paint (34-20), and second chance points (18-8). 
 
The Miners are last in team field goal percentage (38.0) and in opponent field goal percentage (42.6). UTEP is also last in opponent three-point field goal percentage at 35.9. 
 
UTEP is one of the best rebounding teams in the league, grabbing a second place 39.6 rebounds per game and a second place 14.7 offensive rebounds per game (30th in the country). 
 
The Miners are led by Portia Adams with 11.2 points per game. Mary Moses Amaniyo grabs a team high 8.3 rebounds, despite coming off the bench. 
 
THE SERIES
Louisiana Tech owns a 20-12 record over UTEP in the all-time series. The last matchup came in the Don Haskins Center on February 5th earlier this year, ending in a dominant 87-48 Lady Techsters victory. Jianna Morris made five three pointers in the first half, scoring a career high 21 points.