Lady Techsters 65, Delaware 50 (Newark, Delaware)
Averi Aaron got the start Thursday night and made the most of it.
The sophomore forward stuffed the stat sheet, scoring eight points, grabbing 10 rebounds, recording seven assists and totaling three steals to help lead Louisiana Tech (8-5, 1-1) to a 65-50 Conference USA win over Delaware (6-9, 0-3).
It was Tech’s first road win of the season and a bounce back after falling in its CUSA opener at home last week.
Aaron made her first start of the season and led Tech in rebounds (5 offensive, 5 defensive), assists (season-high) and steals in 32 minutes of action.
Tech jumped out to a 20-14 lead after the first quarter before both teams went cold in the second stanza. The Lady Techsters led 29-14 with just over two minutes remaining before the half when the Blue Hens used an 8-0 run to close the half.
Delaware opened the third quarter pulling to within 33-29 at the 7:42 mark before Alexia Weaver hit one of her game-high five three-pointers on the night. It started a 7-0 run as Tech pushed the advantage back to double figures.
The Lady Techsters entered the fourth quarter up 48-35 but saw Delaware use a quick 8-0 run within the first 90 seconds to pull to within 48-43, forcing a Tech timeout.
Paris Bradley then scored seven points during a 12-0 run over the next five minutes to push the lead to 17, the biggest advantage of the night.
Weaver led Tech with 17 points (5-7 from three-point line), while Bradley added 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Tech held Delaware to only 30 percent shooting in the game and outrebounded the Blue Hens 40-27, including 15 offensive boards.
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Liberty 72, Bulldogs 56 (Ruston, La.)
League-leading Liberty showed why it was picked to win CUSA.
The Flames used a balanced offensive attack to hand Louisiana Tech its first home loss of the year in a 72-56 victory Thursday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.
In a game that saw Liberty lead almost start to finish, the Flames built an early lead, kept the Bulldogs at arm’s length, and then methodically pulled away late for the win.
Both teams shot 9-of-24 from the three-point line, but the Flames outscored Tech 13-5 at the free throw line and made four more field goals (25-21) then the Bulldogs.
Liberty led 34-27 at the half despite a halfcourt heave bank shot by DJ Dudley to close the opening 20 minutes of play. Dudley led Tech with 17 points on the night.
Tech pulled to within six points twice early in the second half, but every time the Bulldogs appeared poised to close the gap further, the Flames made a three-pointer or a layup.
Kaden Metheny’s three-pointer with 13:46 to play in the game gave Liberty a 13-point lead (48-35) and Tech would get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
All five Liberty starters finished in double figures led by Brett Decker with 15 points and Metheny with 13 points. Dudley was the lone Bulldog in double figures while Avery Thomas pulled down 10 rebounds for Tech.
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Florida A&M 59, Lady Tigers 55 (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Grambling State battled down to the final possession, but Florida A&M held on late to secure a 59–55 victory Thursday evening in Southwestern Athletic Conference action.
The Tigers opened the game strong building an early eight-point advantage in the first quarter and holding Florida A&M to 33 percent shooting.
Grambling led 19–14 after the opening period, but offensive struggles in the second quarter allowed the Rattlers to claw back into the game.
FAMU trimmed the deficit to 28–27 at halftime. Florida A&M gained momentum coming out of the break, using a 21-point third quarter to take control.
Grambling responded in the fourth, cutting the deficit to one with just over two minutes remaining
Florida A&M converted key free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Grambling shot 34.0 percent from the field and finished 5-of-19 from three-point range.
The Tigers stayed within striking distance throughout, but 20 turnovers and missed free throws proved costly in the closing moments.
Monica Marsh led Grambling State with 12 points. Shaniah Nunn and Douthshine Prien added 10 points each, while Zaria Johnson pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. D’Mya Griffin chipped in eight points off the bench.
Florida A&M was led by Tahnyjia Purifoy who finished with 14 points and five assists. The Rattlers capitalized at the free-throw line, shooting 25-of-29 to edge the Tigers in a tightly contested conference matchup.
