RUSTON, La. (AP) -- Louisiana Tech's usually potent offense was
struggling, so the Techsters' defense had to step up
against Florida International.
Ayana Walker had two blocked shots to go with her 17 points and
12 rebounds Thursday night as Tech (No. 8 ESPN/USA Today; No. 7 Associated Press) moved closer to its ninth
straight Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship with a
65-58 victory over FIU.
Cheryl Ford added 11 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out,
and Takeisha Lewis scored 10 points as Tech (18-4 overall, 9-0 Sun
Belt) shook loose from a 29-29 halftime tie to outscore FIU (15-4,
7-2) 36-29 in the second half.
"How many times have I told you guys (the media) how important
it is to play hard and be tough on defense. Tonight, it was the
difference," said Tech coach Leon Barmore. "We had a tough night
offensively, but a very good night defensively.
"Give us credit, though, for having a tough night and yet
overcoming it to get the win. That may not always happen, but we
played so well defensively that it probably kept us from losing
this game. Offensively, we just really struggled."
Tech, which made just 35 percent of its field-goal attempts in
the second half, made 45 percent of its shots (14-for-31) in the
second half while holding FIU to just 33 percent accuracy
(9-for-27).
"I think we played some very nice basketball and did not let
Louisiana Tech get in their transition game," said FIU coach Cindy
Russo. "I think we got in some trouble by not running our offense,
and that cost us. I guess we let Walker get away from us in the
second half and kind of let her do the things she likes to do, and
that really cost us."
The victory gave Tech, which held a 43-28 rebounding edge over
the taller Golden Panthers, a two-game lead over FIU atop the Sun
Belt standings with seven conference games remaining.
Gergna Slavtcheva led FIU with 17 points, Ivelina Vrancheva had
15 and Cheryl Moody 10.
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ALSO SEE
Women's College Basketball Scoreboard
Fla International Clubhouse
Louisiana Tech Clubhouse
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