Courtesy of LA Tech Athetlics
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech’s defense and balanced offensive attack snaps seven game losing streak to Middle Tennessee, defeating the Blue Raiders 61-48 in the Thomas Assembly Center.
“I was very proud of the defensive effort of our group tonight,” Lady Techster Head Coach Brooke Stoehr said. “Lex (Weaver) really set the tone for us on the ball to start the game and our group fed off of that. We did not let them get comfortable and were able to force some turnovers that created easy offense for us. We missed some opportunities in the second quarter offensively where we turned it over and did not extend the lead. I thought we responded well coming out of the half and put together a really nice third quarter. It is important to take care of home court.
“We have to turn the page quickly and prepare for WKU on Saturday. This group is buying in to the right things and committing to each other and the success of the group. That makes it fun to be around them each day.”
The scoring started fast for the Lady Techsters, running out to a 6-0 lead with three different scorers. Alexia Weaver and Jianna Morris provided hounding defense, helping force eight Blue Raider turnovers in the first frame of action. Louisiana Tech continued to score in a variety of ways, inside, outside, and at the free throw line. A Paris Bradley triple would send the game into the second quarter with a 15-5 Lady Techsters lead. Five is the second lowest score for MTSU in a quarter this year, scoring only two against Providence earlier in the season. Bradley bested Middle Tennessee by herself, scoring a team high nine on perfect shooting.
Middle Tennessee battled back in the second quarter, closing the gap to 22-15 at the media timeout. Louisiana Tech would score the next five to get the lead back to 12, but MTSU stayed in striking distance, nailing two threes to cut the deficit to 27-21 entering the half. Paris Bradley played all 20 minutes of the first half, entering the locker rooms as the game’s only double figure scorer with 12. Jordan Marshall bolstered the paint, grabbing three offensive rebounds and having five total.
The third quarter stayed close into the media with both teams trading baskets. The Lady Techsters defense remained strong, grabbing two steals for easy transition layups. After the media, LA Tech began to extend their lead to the biggest of the game with a Joy Madison-Key layup to extend it to 17 points. Louisiana Tech would enter the final frame up 49-35 with six different players chipping in a game high 22-point quarter. Averi Aaron paced the squad with six, entering double-digits with 11.
Both offenses started slow, but the Lady Techsters lead stayed safe, never entering single digits. Jianna Morris added in two huge threes to kill any Blue Raider momentum, extending her streak to 21 games in a row with a triple. An Averi Aaron rebound would seal the game 61-48 for the first Lady Techsters victory over the Blue Raiders since the 2021-22 Conference USA tournament.
Paris Bradley scored her seventh straight double-figure game with 17 points, a team high. She also grabbed seven rebounds and dished a team high four assists. Bradley was 6-8 from the field, including 3-4 from down town, and a perfect 2-2 from the line. The sophomore guard has failed to score in double-digits only one time this season.
Jordan Marshall led the team in rebounding with eight, her first time since Dec. 17 against Central Arkansas. Her 14 points was the second most on the team and the 12th time she has scored in double figures this season.
The Lady Techsters scored 34 points in the paint, the sixth time they have scored at least 30 this season. Louisiana Tech also forced 20 turnovers, including eight in the first quarter, the eighth time they have forced at least 20 in a game. LA Tech never trailed in the game, the sixth time this season.
