by Malcolm Butler
In a basketball game turned rock fight, Missouri State knocked off regular season champion Louisiana Tech 43-38 Saturday afternoon in the CUSA Championship game in Huntsville.
The loss snapped Tech’s 19-game winning streak and leads to a WBIT berth for the Lady Techsters (26-6).
Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr gave an emotional answer when asked about the disappointment of coming up short in the bid for the first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011.
“I wouldn’t want to be in any other lockerroom then the group that we have gotten to enjoy and the privilege to coach and be around all year,” said Stoehr. “My message to them is you don’t let one day define who you are. Today is not indicative of the year that they have had, the season they have had, and the journey that they have taken.”
Tech led 16-12 after the first quarter and 26-23 at halftime, but the Lady Techsters hit just 5-of-32 field goals over the final 20 minutes of play.
Leading 37-31 heading into the fourth quarter, Missouri State hit a shot on its first possession to increase the lead to eight points. However, it would be the last field goal the Lady Bears would make in the game.
Tech sophomore guard Paris Bradley, who ended with 14 points and 8 boards, made a shot at the 8:05 mark to close the score to with 39-33 … but it would be the last points by either team for more than seven and a half minutes of play.
A Bradley 3-pointer with :33 seconds to play cut the margin to 39-36, but Missouri State hit four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
“It’s been over 60 or 70 days since we experienced (a loss), and it’s hard,” said Stoehr. “We wanted nothing more for this group to be the one that got us over the hump, but today wasn’t our day. Tip your cap to Missouri State.”
Both teams applied relentless defensive pressure over the final two quarters as the game became increasingly physical with hardly any fouls called on either end. Tech shot just four free throws while the Bears attempted just 10 — with four of those coming in the final 30 seconds when the Lady Techsters were intentionally fouling.
In the postgame press conference, Bradley talked about her team’s compassion for each other and how it has led to this year’s success.
“Jordan (Marshall) said it the first day we were here,” said Bradley. “She said, ‘Love wins.’ And it does. As long as we stick together, we will be fine.
“Staying together and showing up and working. We have to thrive in that 1 percent. We have to take it day by day, and focus on one goal at a time.”
In addition to Bradley’s performance, Averi Aaron added 12 points and 8 rebounds.
Kaemyn Bechemier led Missouri State with 16 points.
Tech will learn it’s WBIT match-up on Sunday at 8 p.m.
