EL PASO, Texas – Anna Larr Roberson scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but that wasn’t enough as Louisiana Tech fell to UTEP 61-57 on Thursday night inside the Don Haskin Center.
LA Tech (8-12, 2-3 CUSA) was rolling early with three 3-pointers in the first four minutes of action. UTEP (7-11, 2-3) fought back to bring the Techsters lead to just 13-10 at the first media timeout.
The rest of the half was a back-and-forth battle. The Lady Techsters would see their lead to as much as six on several occasions, but the Miners would have an answer every time down the court.
“UTEP was the tougher team down the stretch today,” Lady Techster head coach Brooke Stoehr said. “We settled for difficult shots that whole first half. We’re up, and we settled for difficult shots. We didn’t move the ball like we were trying to play one-on-one. We learned all these lessons in November and December, and we learned that we have to move the ball and play together for easy shots. I felt like we got a few of those in the first half, but we just had so many empty possessions where we took difficult shots, and it’s why we didn’t shoot above 40 percent in the first half.
“I said for the whole week that this road trip is all about toughness on the boards and keeping them off the free throw line because they’ve been a team that’s struggled to score without those two things. There are only four of six from the line in the first half. We fouled there at the end, but they ended with 23 free throws.”
Roberson opened the second half with back-to-back buckets, and the Lady Techsters grew their lead to seven just three minutes into the third. That is when the Miners started attacking the basket and got to the free-throw line to cut the lead with the clock stopped.
UTEP got a jumper from Mahri Petree to open the fourth stanza to take their first lead since it was 2-0 to begin the contest. The Miners would then go to the charity stripe 11 times and knock down nine to continue putting pressure on the Lady Techsters.
Tech still had a chance to send the game into overtime with under 30 seconds remaining. Roberson laid the ball up underneath the basket and was fouled. After she connected on the and-one, UTEP would get a basket off the inbound and push the lead back to 60-57. The Techsters had one last chance, but a turnover with eight seconds remaining sealed the game.
UTEP had three players in double figures, led by Petree with 15. Erin Wilson finished with a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Louisiana Tech fans are invited to attend Softball Fan Fest on Saturday at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field and the Origin Bank Softball Complex from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event will feature a tour of the facility as well as multiple interactive stations geared towards youth featuring LA Tech players and coaches from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. At Noon, all fans will then have the opportunity to meet the 2024 Bulldog Softball squad for a meet and greet and autograph session with photo opportunities.
Fans will also have the chance to enter a raffle to win various team giveaways. Concessions and the LA Tech Barnes and Nobles Bookstore will be on-site for the event. Season tickets for Bulldog Softball will also be available for purchase throughout the duration of the event.
The Bulldogs enter year three of the Josh Taylor era looking to build off of the last two seasons, which saw Tech post a 71-44 overall record and a Conference USA Regular Season Championship in 2022.
LA Tech begins its season by hosting the LA Tech Invitational, Feb. 10-11, at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field, the first of 25 home games on the schedule.
Season tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now. To purchase season tickets, fans can call 318-257-3631 or go to LATechSports.com/tickets.
UPDATE: Grambling State University officials have confirmed a bomb threat was made Thursday morning to the university’s nursing building.
The Grambling State University Police Department evacuated the nursing building as well as Jacob T. Stewart Hall, the Conrad Hutchinson Performing Arts Center, and Charles P. Adams Hall.
At 8:44 a.m., university officials sent alerts through its “Gram Alert” system to students telling them to shelter in place until the situation was resolved. Persons evacuated from the aforementioned buildings were directed to the intramural center. Campus police and the Grambling Police Department are investigating.
In early 2022, multiple historically black colleges and universities experienced bomb threats. While Grambling State University was not the target of those threats, the campus increased its vigilance to ensure campus safety. Out of an abundance of caution, GSU performed safety sweeps of select buildings.
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The Grambling State Police Department, Grambling Police Department and the Ruston Police Department are on the scene as four buildings on the west side of GSU’s campus have been evacuated following a bomb threat at the university’s Nursing Building.
Those three buildings that have been evacuated along with the GSU Nursing Building are the GSU Performing Arts Center, Jacob Stewart Hall and Charles Adams Hall.
Persons inside other buildings on campus have been advised to shelter in place until the situation is resolved.
Recently, Louisiana Tech University hosted teams of high school students from all across the state for the kickoff of the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition Launch. The event was held from 8-12 at the Integrated Engineering and Science Building on Louisiana Tech’s campus.
“This annual event was a powerful opportunity for CEHS (College of Education and Human Sciences) and COES (College of Engineering and Science) to partner and welcome high schools from around the region to Louisiana Tech’s campus. Providing our University students and faculty opportunities to engage with, mentor, and recruit the best and brightest talent in our region through co-hosting this event is a win, win, win for all involved,” said Dr. Lindsey Keith-Vincent, associate dean of CEHS.
FIRST is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the young leaders of tomorrow in science and engineering. The organization has helped students from across the world develop better science, engineering, and logical thinking skills in the hope that with these skills, they will be better equipped to deal with the modern, complex problems of tomorrow.
There was no better place to showcase how far student members have come than this year’s annual kickoff event. Teams of students were challenged to raise funds, design a team ‘brand,’ hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. Teams of students waited months to discover what it was since it was kept secret from them until the day of the event. With supervision by experienced engineers, these students went head-to-head to see who the top robotics competitor was.
It will be an exciting competition season this year, and Louisiana Tech, CEHS, and COES were honored to host its amazing start. “It helps us connect with high schools and helps high school students feel connected to Tech. Events like this help us showcase our programs and recruit high-quality students who then make an impact on the University as student leaders,” said Dr. Heath Tims, associate dean of undergraduate studies at the COES.
A Third Judicial District Court has ruled the man charged in the deadly stabbing attack on the Louisiana Tech campus in November is competent to stand trial, according to reporting by KNOE TV.
Jacoby Johnson, a 23-year-old Tech student at the time of the attack, was previously indicted for second degree murder in the death of Annie Richardson and three counts of attempted second degree murder for the knife attacks on three other victims.
Two doctors conducted a sanity examination on Johnson. According to KNOE reporter Kyndall Jones, both doctors recommended that Johnson undergo further evaluation. However, the Court ruled Johnson was competent to stand trial and assist with his defense.
According to testimony, Johnson told the doctors he hears voices, prompting their recommendation for further evaluation. They told the court they could not determine definitively if Johnson does in fact hear voices, thus the need for more evaluation.
Johnson was slated to graduate from Louisiana Tech just days after he allegedly attacked four women outside the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center on November 13. A Louisiana Tech Police officer apprehended Johnson about a block from the scene just minutes after the attack was reported.
Pre-trial motions are scheduled for March 19. Johnson remains incarcerated at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
Rusty Wilfong has volunteered countless hours to the Lincoln Parish Community over the years, earning him the Bill Best Humanitarian Award.
Rusty Wilfong has been named the Bill Best Humanitarian Award winner for the 2023. The award is one of the most prestigious honors given to a citizen in Lincoln Parish and is presented by the Ruston Rotary Club.
Wilfong is well known for his cooking for community events and the trademark Karl Malone Toyota Cooking trailer you see around town at various events. Wilfong and his cooking crew are a fixture for cooking and serving jambalaya at the Dart Radiothon and at Rotary events. As part of his service to the community, Rusty and his crew cook at every LA Tech home football game and the LA Tech student athletes welcome back every fall at LA Tech. He and his team served First Responders with cooked crawfish and shrimp this past spring at the Argent Pavilion on the LA Tech campus.
Wifong has worked with Rotary on it trailer fundraiser for the past five years, securing the cook trailer along with all details of getting the trailer ready plus displaying the trailer for the annual fundraiser. The fall cook trailer fundraiser provides money for many of the Ruston Rotary community events.
Wilfong said of the honor, “I am humbled over the award. I am fortunate enough to work for Karl Malone that allow me to do all these activities.”
In the nominating form, Bill Elmore said of Wilfong that he is true public servant and a deserving candidate for this award.
Clearly, Wilfong is known for cooking Jambalaya for the DART Radiothon held in October of every year. Many local residents come for the Jambalaya and help DART raise funds for the domestic violence program. 2023 DART Radiothon was a record fundraiser event.
DART’s Terri Queen Autrey said of Wilfong that he does an outstanding job of personifying the giving spirit of the Bill Best Humanitarian award.
Stephanie Matthews of Ruston’s Christian Community Action (CCA) was last year’s winner. The award will be presented at the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Banquet to be held on Thursday, February 1.
In 1997, the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce established this award to recognize a local citizen for their outstanding contributions to humanitarian interests, unselfish giving, and the service to others in time of need. The selection process places an emphasis on voluntary service to others over an extended period of time or extraordinary contributions toward a single endeavor.
In 2006, the Ruston Rotary Club took responsibility of administering the award and renamed the award ‘The Bill Best Humanitarian Award’ to honor Rotarian Bill Best. Best was President of Ruston Rotary in 1982-83 and owned the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in Ruston. Best is also the 1987 Robert E. Russ award winner. He was a civic leader that exemplified the intent, spirit and character of the Humanitarian Award. As a Rotarian he lived the Rotary motto of ‘Service above Self’.
Today marks a critical date of voting for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association at its annual convention. The main topic will likely be the principals ratifying the current setup of divisions in the LHSAA, possibly doing away with the classification system for athletics.
We caught up with Ruston High School principal Dan Gressett to break down what can be expected at the Crown Plaza in Baton Rouge.
The conversation has been lightly edited for continuity.
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Lincoln Parish Journal: What are we expecting is going to happen today regarding any propositions that may be put forth?
Dan Gressett: I think we’re going to have a chance to ratify the divisions that we’re in now, as opposed to the classifications that we were in. I expect that to be ratified. If it doesn’t get ratified, it would go back to classifications: 5A, 4A, all of that. But I expect it will overwhelmingly pass and be ratified.
LPJ: So that would mean the classifications ultimately would dissolve.
DG: As far as the LHSAA is concerned. You still have five classifications for enrollment. But as far as the LHSAA is concerned, yes, you would play in divisions.
LPJ: So we’re expecting select and non select the most likely stay as well.
DG: Yes. There’s no proposal to put select and non-select back together. So yes, I expect select and non-select to just they stay the way that they are.
LPJ: Just for clarity, what’s a good way to differentiate between select and non-select?
DG: Some people still don’t really know the definition. When you used to say public and private, people mostly understood. But when you say select and non-select, you are strictly dealing with the way your admissions are handled. So select doesn’t just mean private schools; it also includes some charter schools, some magnet programs where they have a selective admissions process.
But when you say non-select, that includes all your public schools that do not have any type of magnet program, or they’re not a charter school, or they don’t have any type of selective admission process. It’s all deals with and how kids are enrolled or how you’re allowed to to take in kids into your to your school.
LPJ: Do you think anything could possibly be a surprise out of today?
DG: You know, it’s really not one of those years where there’s like a really big, hot topic item. One item up for vote will be for students to have a one-time transfer, basically, like the NCAA does. We’re against that.
LPJ: And that transfer would it be for public to public, or if you went from public to private, could you play right away?
DG: It’d be for anybody.
LPJ: How much do you think any of these votes would affect Ruston’s chances to remain highly competitive at the state level athletically?
DG: Zero.
LPJ: What would you, as the principal, like to see as the long term solution for all of this?
DG: I think we’re in a really good place right now. I’m pleased with the way it’s set up with divisions. Nobody said it’s perfect. I’m not against coming back together at some point. I just don’t see that happening in the near future. I think it’s been tried so many times that people have kind of lost interest in it. I think if you do come back together, there’s gotta be some some things put in place, that everybody could agree on. I don’t see that happening in the near future.
But in my opinion, we’re in a pretty good spot right now. I know some people would disagree with that, and that’s totally fine. I think (LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine) does a great job. He’s been very open about things. Not everybody always agrees with the things he does. But that’s the nature of the business that he’s in. I think we’re in a pretty good spot right now.
Grambling State University Police arrested an Arizona man for resisting arrest and other charges after a confrontation with officers responding to his stuck tractor-trailer rig.
Michael D. Dickerson, 44, of Tucson, apparently got his Peterbilt rig stuck in a grassy area off Main Street on the GSU campus last Thursday morning. Dickerson told police was trying to turn around because he thought the road was blocked.
When police told him he must move because he was blocking traffic, he worked the truck back and forth, only to bury the tires deeper in the mud causing ruts in the lawn. Dickerson did not respond to suggestions that he call a tow truck.
GSU Police called a tow truck and requested Dickerson’s license and information. After three requests he finally gave officers his information. He was presented with a citation, but refused to sign and told officers he wanted to call his lawyer. He then rolled up the truck window and made a phone call.
Police told Dickerson that if he didn’t sign the citation, he would be arrested. He proceeded to write “N/A” on the citation rather than sign his name. Police directed him to get out of the vehicle, but he refused.
Dickerson was told he was under arrest and to exit the truck, but he still refused. Officers then entered the passenger’s side of the truck and physically pushed Dickerson to the driver’s door.
Police used force to take Dickerson into custody. He was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he was booked for resisting an officer, careless operation of a vehicle, and simple criminal damage to property.
Bail was set at $11,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
On Saturday, January 13, the Lincoln Parish Branch of NAACP hosted its annual MLK Freedom Fund Scholarship Banquet at the Ruston Civic Center.
Keynote speaker Dr. James Bonner Sr. delivered an inspirational message to the over 350 guests in attendance.
Scholarship were awarded to Lauryn Garrison (ULM), Bralyn Mayfield (GSCC), and VaShanti Sproulls (ULL). In addition homage was paid to 2023 State Champions Ruston High Football team as they received a plaque presents by NAACP Banquet Chairman Mr. McCarter.
Musical performances by youth council members Briley Kent and Kaejha Stewart captivated the audience. The Service Award was presented to Gloria Johnson for 50-plus years in education and 30-plus years in NAACP as Secretary.
Remembrance of Coach Robert Demp Smith posthumous for dedication to the community of Lincoln Parish and his support of NAACP. The highlight of the evening would have to be the amazing service from NAACP youth council members who escorted guests to their table and served as hosts and hostesses for the evening.
In preparation for this event, youth council members attended and etiquette class hosted by adult branch member, Betty Anderson.
A membership appeal was done by LaTavia Salisbury, in which membership opportunity was extended to interested individuals. For more information on how to join the Lincoln Parish branch of NAACP, please email lpbnaacp@gmail.com.
This was our first banquet post-Covid, and we have held the banquet for over 30 years. President Walker of the Lincoln Parish NAACP branch credits the amazing efforts of our banquet committee and chair Mr. McCarter as well as local community members who supported this event through table sponsorship.
Proceeds raised from this event help provide support to Lincoln Parish youth through scholarship, as well as support community events that benefit our members as well as our community.
The Lincoln Parish NAACP has probably served northern Louisiana for nearly 100 commit years. We are committed to our mission to ensure the political educational, social and economic equality of rights for all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and discrimination.
The landscape of college athletics has change considerably over the last few years and will likely continue to change as the concepts of pay-for-play, player rights, and transfer mobility play out in discussions and court proceedings.Big money budgets, huge TV contracts, continuing conference realignments, and ever-increasing coaching salaries are also major issues impacting universities across the nation.
What was once considered a fairness approach to paying collegiate athletes for some portion of the monetary benefit of using their name, image, and/or likeness (NIL) has now turned into nothing more than just a monetary bidding war for top players with no clear connection to any actual NIL exchange and no limit on the amount of money being spent on players.Couple that financial incentive with an ability to transfer with ever decreasing restrictions, and we are left with free agency across the system.
The schools with larger budgets and access to financial resources will be significantly advantaged in this new landscape.There is no longer a level playing field across all universities playing at the division one level, and it will just get more uneven as we progress in this new approach to intercollegiate athletics.
So where does LA Tech go from here?As the University seeks a new athletic director (AD) to lead the program and navigate through all this change, there will be several key considerations for the new AD consider:
Clarify Identity:Tech is a smaller division one program with a budget below most other division one schools.Those facts are not going to change overnight regardless of the level of fundraising efforts employed.We need to seriously consider working with others in similar situations as well as with Conference USA and Sunbelt to realign these conferences to be more geographically focused.Travel spending must be reduced, and athletes need to be in class as much as possible.We need to remain an education-based university with student/athletes.A realistic, humble approach to this matter needs to be employed.Comments made in the past need to be dismissed and forgotten.
Embrace the Identity: Rather than use the lack of budgetary resources as an excuse and be a victim going forward, we need to embrace the identity at all levels.We need leaders that can narrow the focus on where to best utilize resources, coaches that embrace the challenge with staffing considerations, and an athletic department that is willing to be different.A department that still values education, student/athlete development, teambuilding, and overall culture creation will be unique in the future.
Realistic View:As some players develop, have strong seasons, and receive opportunities to leave, celebrate their accomplishments rather than get angry over their departures.Use the advancements of others as a recruiting tool for young players to come here, play early, and showcase their talents as they get a solid educational foundation and view of a team culture.
Define the Win:Conference championships, won/loss records, bowl games, and regional tournaments will be pointed to by many evaluating the success of a program.These accomplishments are all important, but they are goals and not purpose.We all want success on the field and courts of play, but we really need to think broader in what we want for our athletic program.Don’t we want an athletic department that complements the university with a strong focus on developing student/athletes, exhibiting a high level of character throughout the program, and competing in a manner that unites the university and the community?
Leaders Matter: The athletic department will need coaches and administrators to be people of impact.Impactful people allow for organization charts to be reduced, staff sizes to shrink, and more to get done.The AD will need to be a leader that develops other leaders, articulates a clear strategy, and engages well with the entire department.
Engage the Community: A small division one program in a small market needs everyone engaged.We need all aspects of the business community and private sector to feel like part of the program.Athletic and University leadership needs to think more inclusivity than exclusivity as we move forward in a changing environment.
Connector:Finally, the new AD must connect with the alumni base, the community, and the student body to share the vision for Tech athletics. People won’t fully engage just based on need.People need to connect with a vision or a purpose to fully support a program.The vision and purpose must be worth (value) supporting.
As we say goodbye to Eric Wood and thank him for his dedicated service through some challenging times, I hope we can unite as an alumni base and community to support the future of LA Tech and the Tech athletic department.
Ruston Police arrested a man last Friday after he allegedly beat a woman in a domestic assault.
Officers responded to a Sikes Street residence about 9 p.m. Friday where the alleged victim was found with two swollen eyes and scrapes and bruises on her forehead.
A witness said Billy A. Brown, 30, of Ruston, had struck the victim in the head. The victim said she and Brown had been in a relationship for four years.
Brown was at the home at the time officers investigated and was arrested for domestic abuse battery.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
In 1930, Kenneth and Ruth Wakefield bought an old colonial house on Bedford Street in Whitman, Massachusetts. At the time, the house was located on a toll road about halfway between Boston and New Bedford, Massachusetts. Because it was located on the toll road, the Wakefields called it the Toll House Inn. The Wakefields advertised that the house was built in 1709, but some people claimed the house was built in 1817 and the earlier date was used as a marketing ploy. The Wakefields rented rooms to tourists who were passing between the two historic towns. Ruth, a former dietician, served home-cooked meals to travelers. Before long, people began coming to the inn, not for its colonial charm, but for Ruth’s wonderful cooking. The inn became a tourist destination in itself.
Guests began asking for Ruth’s recipes, which she was happy to share. So successful was her cooking that a Boston newspaper printed some of her recipes. In 1936, Ruth compiled her “Tried and True Recipes” into a cookbook which became a best seller. Her most requested recipe was for a dessert that came about in 1930 as an accident. Ruth had run out of an ingredient without which the dessert would be a disaster. She had no time to go to a grocery store to buy more powdered baker’s chocolate, so she substituted it with broken pieces of a chocolate bar. When she removed the dessert from the oven, she was disappointed. The chocolate had not melted properly, but there was no time to make another dessert. She had no choice but to serve it as it was. She watched anxiously as her guests tried the dessert. Most of her guests replied, not with words, but with “Mmmmm.” Everyone loved her accidental creation and wanted her recipe. In her recipe, Ruth included the name of the company which made the chocolate bars. So many people began making the dessert that the company noticed an increase in sales of their chocolate bar.
Everyone, it seemed, wanted Ruth’s recipe. The company which made the chocolate bar used in Ruth’s creation also wanted the recipe, so they made Ruth an offer. In exchange for the rights to her recipe, they would provide her with a lifetime supply of chocolate. Ruth had been giving the recipe away to her guests and had shared it in Boston newspapers, so she instantly accepted their proposition. The company began packaging chocolate specifically for Ruth’s recipe and, to help sales, the company printed Ruth’s recipe on every package.
In 1966, the Wakefields sold the inn and retired. In 1984, seven years after Ruth’s death, the inn was destroyed by a fire which began in the kitchen, the same kitchen that she had accidentally invented one of the most beloved desserts in history—Chocolate Chip Cookies. Rather than being named after herself, Ruth named her cookie recipe after the inn. You and I know them as Nestle’s Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies. “Mmmmm.”
The Louisiana Tech Men’s Basketball team is back home for a pair of conference match-ups this week, starting tonight against UTEP inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 107.5 FM with Malcolm Butler and Jack Thigpen providing a call of the action.
LA Tech (13-6, 3-1) won its third straight CUSA game this past Saturday, defeating Jacksonville State on the road by a final score of 74-57. With the game tied at 43-43 with 12 minutes to go, the Bulldogs outscored the Gamecocks 31-14 the rest of the way (made 12 of their last 14 field goal attempts).
With the victory, the ‘Dogs moved into a three-way tie for first place in the league standings. A big reason for that was Isaiah Crawford who was unstoppable against Jax State, scoring a career-high 30 points on 12-of-16 shooting. He was also a menace on the defensive end, tallying a season-high five steals.
LA Tech also got quality minutes off the bench against the Gamecocks from Dravon Mangum, Devin Ree, and Terri Miller Jr. The trio combined for 24 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists.
Meanwhile, Crawford has upped his scoring average to 15.9 points per game (second in the league) and 19.5 points per game during league play. The forward has scored in double figures in 12 of his last 13 games. Defensively, he is the only player in the country currently with at least 40 steals and 30 blocks.
While LA Tech ranks in the top 25 in the country in scoring defense (64.2) and field goal percentage defense (39.4), it has been the offensive end that has helped the ‘Dogs get off to a good start in CUSA. In league play, they rank No. 1 in offensive efficiency, averaging 72.8 points while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three.
The Bulldogs will try to remain perfect at home on Thursday. They are 9-0 in the TAC this season, one of only two teams in CUSA still undefeated at home.
The Miners (11-8, 2-2) enter Thursday having split its four conference games so far. This past week, they swept their two league contests at home, defeating Middle Tennessee (73-59) and WKU (93-87). UTEP is still searching for its first true road win of the season. The Miners have dropped all five road games, including league matchups at New Mexico State and FIU.
Offensively, the Miners play with a lot of pace as they rank second in the country in fastbreak points (18.95 per game). They also get to the free throw line a ton, ranking in the top 10 in the nation in both free throws made (18.4 per game) and attempted (26.5 per game). They have attempted 20+ free throws in eight of their last nine games (made 45 combined FTs in their wins over the Blue Raiders and Hilltoppers.
Defensively, UTEP is the No. 1 team in the country at generating steals and forcing turnovers. The Miners average 11.9 steals per game and force 19.26 turnovers per game. In their four league games, they have already totaled 57 steals (average of 14.25) as well as having forced 67 turnovers (average of 21.00).
Preseason All-Conference USA selection Tae Hardy makes UTEP go offensively. He is averaging a team-best 15.6 points per game and is coming off a season-high 27 in the win over WKU this past Saturday. He has made 40 of UTEP’s 105 three-pointers on the season, shooting 40.4 percent from beyond the arc.
LA Tech leads the all-time series versus UTEP, 18-14. Since becoming league opponents in CUSA, the Bulldogs hold an 11-6 advantage. The last three meetings have been super competitive with all three being decided by five points or less. LA Tech has had the upper hand at home in the series, winning 11 of the 13 meetings in Ruston including last season’s 60-58 victory.
Louisiana Tech begins a two-game road swing with a trip to El Paso, Texas, to take on UTEP at 8 p.m. CT tonight inside the Don Haskins Center. The game will be live on ESPN+ and KNBB 97.7/LA Tech Athletics App.
Louisiana Tech (8-11, 2-2) used a 16-0 run to end the first quarter to beat Jacksonville State 67-53 on Saturday, Jan. 20.
Anja Bukvic continues to step up her game for the Lady Techsters. A week after scoring a then career-high 11 points against Liberty, Bukvic set a new career-high with 17 points, two steals, and 30 minutes of action. In her last three games, she has seen her average rise from 2.2 points to 4.1 per game.
A steady hand for the Lady Techsters, Anna Larr Roberson is coming off her second 20-point performance of the season. She has scored double figures in five of the last six games. She recently moved into 23rd on the all-time scoring list with 1,475 points.
Salma Bates has been one of the top defenders in Conference USA this season. The senior guard ranks third with 34 steals and fourth with 1.79 steals per game.
Tech continues to be the best-distributing team in the league, with 13.6 assists per game. Silvia Nativi leads the way with 3.1 per game for eighth in the conference. Bates is second on the team with 2.7, and Morris is at 2.3, 10th and 12th in CUSA.
UTEP (6-11, 1-3) started the season 3-0 before dropping eight of the final 10 non-conference games. The Miners opened CUSA play with a win over New Mexico State before falling in the last three against FIU, Middle Tennessee, and Western Kentucky.
UTEP’s offense features a balanced attack with four players averaging over 7.5 points per game, led by Jane Asinde (16.3) and Erin Wilson (13.5) in double figures.
Asinde, a Wichita State transfer, is second in CUSA in scoring and fourth in the league with 8.6 rebounds per game. The senior forward has seven double-doubles on the season. Wilson is the top returner for the Miners, who brought back only five players. She is the team leader with 8.9 rebounds per game and is third in the conference. She has six double-doubles on the season, with two coming in CUSA action.
UTEP is one of the best in the country at getting to the free-throw line. The Miners get to the line 20.47 times per game and make 14.18.
LA Tech holds a 16-11 advantage in the series all-time. The teams have swapped the previous three-season series, with UTEP taking three last season, including the CUSA quarterfinals.
Louisiana Tech claimed another weekly honor as Olga Bienzobas was named Conference USA Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week in an announcement made by the league office on Wednesday.
Last week, Ana Rodrigues took home Athlete of the Week honors after going 5-1 in the opening weekend of the spring season. This week, Bienzobas collected the award as a result of her performance in Baton Rouge.
The senior faced off against LSU’s Kinaa Graham who came into the match ranked 56th in the country in singles. After dropping the first set, 4-6, Bienzobas fought back by winning the second set, 6-4, and force a third set tiebreaker.
The San Sebastian, Spain native got the upper hand early in the tiebreaker, winning the first five points. After her opponent closed the gap, Bienzobas ultimately took the tiebreaker, 10-4, on court one.
It marked the second-highest ranked singles win in program history and the highest ever in a dual match. Bienzobas improved to 3-1 in singles this season with the victory.
She becomes the sixth Bulldog in program history to receive CUSA Athlete of the Week honors.
LA Tech returns to action Saturday, Jan. 31 as the Bulldogs have a doubleheader for their home opener. They will take on Louisiana Christian at 11 a.m. CT and Southern Arkansas at 5 p.m. CT at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
Brooke Dodds Smith November 1, 1980 – January 17, 2024 Service: Temple Baptist Church Sanctuary, Thursday, January 25, 2024, 10:00 am Cemetery: Douglas Cemetery, Thursday, January 25, 2024
Olaide Shobowale Thursday 01/11/1973 — Saturday 01/06/2024 Visitation: Thursday 01/25/2024 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Friday 01/26/2024 12:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Friday 01/26/2024, Kilpatrick Memorial Garden, 1270 Highway 544, Ruston
Lemon Lewis Sunday 02/04/1945 — Sunday 01/14/2024 Visitation: Friday 01/26/2024 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Observation Window Viewing: Friday 01/26/2024 5:00pm to Saturday 1/27/2024-9:00am at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday 01/27/2024 10:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Saturday 01/27/2024, Mays Chapel Cemetery, Ruston
Carl and Mamie Hammock celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary recently.
Written by Emma Stone
Carl and Mamie Hammock recently celebrated their golden anniversary, renewing their vows surrounded by friends and family on January 5th.
The couple, from Shreveport and Ruston, first crossed paths on the Louisiana Tech’s campus.
“I just looked at her. She was passing through the student union and I noticed her,” said Carl. “I asked my friends about her. I started walking her to class.”
After about a month, Mamie agreed to go on a date. Carl took her out to Griff’s for burgers.
From there, the two hit it off.
“Two and a half years later, he proposed to me in the quadrangle on campus,” said Mamie. “I made him call my daddy and ask his permission.”
With her father’s blessing, the couple tied the knot on January 5, 1974. Their early years began with humble beginnings.
“When we got married, we didn’t have anything,” said Carl. “She left me some change but took it out of my pocket to buy a dining set, a table and four chairs, for $30.”
The couple stayed in Louisiana Tech’s housing for married students for one year.
“Carl was a workaholic, thus allowing us to purchase our first home,” said Mamie.
After graduation, Mamie initially worked as a substitute teacher in the local school system, later transitioning to a P.E. teacher at Simsboro, while Carl devoted 38 years to a warehouse company before joining the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office.
“She tells me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear,” said Carl. “Sometimes I go out in left field but she knows how to pull me back in.”
After 10 years of marriage, the two had their son, Carl Stewart Hammock Jr., then their daughter, Kristen Hammock-Young.
“He’s just a good person and easy going, with me that is,” said Mamie. “The older we get the more we listen to each other. We don’t sugarcoat, and he is just an honest person.”
The celebration service hosted plenty of music and dancing.
“I’m not the same person she married, and she’s not the same person I married,” said Carl. “You either grow together or grow apart.”
Words of wisdom were given for those looking to get married or are in a long-term relationship.
“Make sure it’s the two of you before it’s the three of you,” said Mamie. “Young people need to get to know each other before adding another person.”
As the Hammock family continues to grow, their enduring love and commitment serve as a testament to the strength of marriage and the importance of growing together over the years.
Miss Louisiana Tech 2023 Chanley Patterson passed the title on to Kaylyn Murphy, a senior architecture major, who received the coveted crown as Miss Louisiana Tech 2024 after Tuesday’s pageant held at Howard Auditorium.
Murphy, whose platform is suicide awareness, competed against 12 other Tech students to win the coveted title. She will compete in the Miss Louisiana pageant this June in Monroe.
As Miss Louisiana Tech, Murphy receives a tuition scholarship, private room and meals for three quarters from the university, and a $2,000 wardrobe budget given by the Union Board.
First runner up and the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship given by the Alumni Association and the University Foundation is Hannah Brotherton, a junior computer information systems major. Brotherton also received Miss Congeniality, which is selected by the delegates and includes a $150 scholarship given by the Union Board.
Second runner up and recipient of a $750 scholarship courtesy of the university is Grace Jones, a sophomore nursing major.
Third runner up and recipient of a $700 scholarship given by the Student Government Association is De’Ahmya Whaley, a sophomore secondary education major. Whaley also received the People’s Choice Award, voted on by the audience and includes a $150 scholarship given by the Union Board.
Fourth runner up and recipient of a $500 scholarship given by the Louisiana Tech Union Board is Emily Travis, a senior interdisciplinary studies major.
A Ruston man was arrested Monday for allegedly exposing himself to a woman traveling on Interstate 20 in Ouachita Parish in October.
Samuel Jesse Paul Landry, 32, was taken into custody in Monroe by the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office.
In October, OPSO received a report from a woman who said she was traveling east on I-20 from Ruston to Monroe when she encountered a man driving in the same direction.
The woman reported she passed the man’s vehicle near the Choudrant exit and he apparently fell in behind her. When she neared the Well Road exit, the man pulled alongside her vehicle and waved his hands to get her attention.
The victim raised her hands to gesture “What?” and the man allegedly yelled, “You’re so hot!” The man then allegedly arched his pelvic area and exposed his genital area to the female motorist.
The victim sped away from the man and reported the incident to OPSO.
In November, the victim’s daughter and a friend were traveling on the same route and encountered the same suspect. The victim’s daughter did not notice the suspect until he drove alongside her vehicle, waving his hands to get her attention.
The suspect allegedly motioned for the daughter to lift her shirt and said he would pay her. The woman refused and took the next exit. Once the suspect passed by the exit, the daughter captured photos of the suspect’s vehicle.
According to OPSO, the daughter placed the pictures of the suspect’s vehicle on social media with a request for help to identify the man. The suspect’s name was provided within a few days of the social media post and forwarded to OPSO for further investigation.
Landry was booked at the Ouachita Parish Correctional Center on a warrant charging him with obscenity. He posted $7,500 bail pending a court date in February.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mallory Smith (10) has scored in double figures in 10 of her 16 games this year. (Photo by Darrell James)
By Malcolm Butler
Mallory Smith said she heard a pop.
Never a good sign when an athlete goes down with a knee injury.
It came during the first half of the Lady Cougars heart-breaking 43-42 loss to Carroll in the Neill Kilgore Memorial Tournament back on December 8 at The Brickhouse.
Smith said she was scrambling after a loose ball with a Carroll defender and just found herself in an awkward position. And then the dreaded sound.
“I heard it pop, and it really scared me,” remembered the Lady Cougars junior guard. “Everything started going through my mind, like was I going to be out for the entire season?”
Smith had gotten off to a solid start, scoring in double figures in seven of the first nine games of the year, including 19 against Sam Houston and 16 against Saline.
And then in that one moment on a hustle play, the rest of her season was in jeopardy. Smith wasn’t the only one that was afraid of the worst.
“When it happened, I saw her face immediately and I thought it was worse than what it was,” said head coach Katie Hall. “I thought it was an ACL the way she fell and by her reaction.”
The days following the fall were pure agony for Smith as she waited for the results from imaging done on the knee. She saw an orthopedic specialist the following day but Smith said the doctor didn’t exactly ease her concern.
“He didn’t rule out ACL at first,” said Smith. “There was still a chance of it, and that was the scariest thing.”
It took a few days for the images to be read and the diagnosis to be given to the Lady Cougars guard and her parents.
Meanwhile, Hall was also figuring out what life without Smith may mean for the Lady Cougars.
“I thought we have to figure out a way to win without her,” said Hall. “We struggled to get our offense going without her. We missed her tremendously in that aspect. She is the engine that got us going and sparked everyone around her, when she is hitting shots and getting steals and layups. We feed off of that and I felt like we missed that piece when she was out.”
However, the final prognosis was promising. It wasn’t a season-ending injury.
And less than two weeks after the injury, Smith returned to the court wearing a knee brace after missing just four games. And although she scored just four points in a December 21 loss to Summerfield, she was back.
“I was proud of her for being tough and wanting to come back so soon,” said Hall. “She came back quicker than I thought she was going to. Even though I could tell she was favoring that knee, she wanted to be out there. She was like, ‘I got this.'”
And got this she has. Smith has shown signs of returning to the offensive spark she was before the injury, including a career-high 23 points in the Lady Cougars 55-49 upset victory over Castor on January 9.
But she saved her biggest moment for the biggest game of the season. After watching district rival OCS rally from an 18-point fourth quarter deficit last night to take a 2-point lead with under 20 seconds to play, Smith calmly drained a three-pointer with 13 ticks left on the clock to give the Lady Cougars the 58-57 win.
It completed a 19-point effort by Smith.
“That’s kind of what Mallory does,” said Hall. “Big moments don’t phase her. She loves to compete and she knows how to put the ball in the basket. I was impressed with her mentality in that moment. That was a big-time shot by her.”
For the season Smith is averaging 11 points with 10 double digit scoring games. She is also one of the defensive sparks, especially with the Lady Cougars utilize a full-court press.
“Mallory is instant offense,” said Hall. “She comes in and can make things happen. She can score through contact. She can knock down outside shots. We ask a lot of her defensively, but that is an area of her game she continues to work on and can improve.”
In the last five games, Smith has recorded 13 steals, including three steals in four of those five games. For the season, she is one of the team leaders in steals and deflections despite missing the four games.
“She is learning the different defensive concepts, but she is so instinctive,” said Hall. “She has good instincts on defense and gets deflections and some steals, but as a coach, you always want more out of all of your players.”
Smith, who started playing basketball in Upward in the second grade, said she loves the freedom the game provides.
“I really like the freedom of getting to fix your own mistakes,” said Smith. “If you make a mistake, you have a lot of opportunity to do some good things to make up for it.”
After playing sparingly last year as a sophomore, Smith has seen her role grow this season.
“I think her confidence and her role in coming out and scoring,” said Hall. “I think she likes that role. I think she thrives in that. She wants to play. She never wants to come out of the game.”
Despite losing three of its top players, including its top two scorers from last year’s team, the Lady Cougars have surprised many with their solid 12-8 start to the season. And if the team is to reach its ceiling this year, Hall said Smith will be a big reason why.
“Mallory is a big piece of our puzzle,” said Hall. “When she is on and gets rolling, then our team is rolling. I feel strongly about that. When we press, she can really cause some problems for the other team. It kind of starts with her. She is so athletic and she has so much potential. She is such a big part of us reaching our potential.”
LPJ co-publisher and the Voice of the Bearcats Kyle Roberts (left) presents a framed Limited Edition poster to Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh.
Thanks to the generosity of area Bearcat fans who have purchased copies of the commissioned 2023 Ruston state championship commemorative posters, the Lincoln Parish Journal was able to donate $1,500 to the Bearcat Football Club during Monday night’s banquet.
LPJ co-publishers Kyle Roberts and Malcolm Butler gave the donation to head coach Jerrod Baugh as well as a framed copy of the Limited Edition poster (#1).
“When we were first discussing the concept for the poster design, we wanted to accomplish a few things,” said Butler. “First, we wanted to create something that Ruston High fans could cherish and remember this year’s state title by. Something they could hang on their wall in their office or their home. Something area businesses could hang on their walls.
“Secondly, we wanted to make sure we donated part of the poster sale proceeds directly back to the Ruston football program. We know that to run a first-class program it takes funds. The LPJ is a proud corporate sponsor of the Bearcat program, but we wanted to do even more. We were able to do that with this initial check, and we hope we will continue to sell more of the posters so we can give them even more.”
There are still both Limited and Commemorative Editions posters available to be purchased Twenty-five percent of all profits go directly to the Bearcat Football Club.
Baugh and the Ruston Bearcats took our community on a memorable journey this year, capturing the 2023 Nonselect School Division I title with a 31-17 win over Zachary in the Caesar’s Superdome.
Baugh and the Bearcats captured the school’s ninth state title, its first since 1990 and they did so in a first-class fashion.
In recognition of the state title run, the Lincoln Parish Journal commissioned local graphic designer Courtney Pugh of Donnie Bell Design to create a commemorative edition and limited poster featuring photos from official GeauxPrep’s state title game photographer Josh McDaniel (FourSix3).
There are two unique versions of the 18 x 24 inch poster, each printed on 100-pound glossy:
a) a LIMITED edition ($75) features a gold gilded tint and a numbering system to differentiate each poster
b) a COMMEMORATIVE edition ($25) with an unlimited number of sales based on orders.
To order and secure a copy of either poster, email lpjmerchandise@gmail.com and include your name, email address, cell phone number, version of the poster (LIMITED or COMMEMORATIVE), and total number wanting to purchase. The LPJ will take orders on a first come, first serve basis and will continue to sell while supplies last.
The LPJ will take payment via credit card (an email invoice will be sent which can be processed by the buyer with a credit card) or cash. No checks will be accepted.
Don’t miss your chance to purchase this beautiful keepsake depicting the Bearcats title run in 2023. Email lpjmerchandise@gmail.com and include your name, email address, cell phone number, version of the poster (LIMITED or COMMEMORATIVE), and total number wanting to purchase.
Special thanks to Origin Bank and Forth Insurance for their support of this project.
