Western Kentucky W. Kentucky/Louisiana Tech La. Tech Women's College Basketball recap on ESPN

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) – Louisiana Tech was prepared for a difficult game in the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament. Western Kentucky did not disappoint.

Cheryl Ford scored all 13 of her points in the second half as Louisiana Tech (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, No. 5 AP) beat Western Kentucky 86-63 Saturday in the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

Ayana Walker scored 22 points for Louisiana Tech. Brooke Lassiter added 20 and Takeisha Lewis 16.

Natalie Powers scored 22 points for Western Kentucky (17-13). ShaRae Mansfield added 13 points, Aja Brown 12 and Jamie Truitt 11.

Louisiana Tech (26-4) will play the winner of Sunday's Middle Tennessee-North Texas game in Monday's semifinals.

The teams were tied eight times in the first half.

"Without question, this is the toughest opening round game we have ever had in the Sun Belt tournament. It speaks volumes for the league because the depth is very good," Louisiana Tech coach Leon Barmore said.

Lassiter, a junior guard, said Barmore had been trying to get her to take more shots.

"The defense always focuses on our post players, because they are such great players and have carried us all year long. We have to get help from the perimeter," Lassiter said.

Essence Perry hit a layup with nine seconds remaining in the first half as Louisiana Tech took a 38-37 lead at the break.

The game remained close until Ford hit back-to-back layups with 12:29 remaining, giving the Techsters an eight-point lead.

Mansfield sustained a concussion when she collided with Ford late in the game. She did not return.

Western Kentucky Coach Steve Small said he was proud of his team's effort.

"I think we played 30 really good minutes of basketball against a great team," Small said. "I wish we'd had that effort in some of the other games."

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Women's College Basketball Scoreboard

Western Kentucky Clubhouse

Louisiana Tech Clubhouse