By Kevin Albarez, Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications; featured photo by Darrell James
Four Louisiana Tech women’s basketball players scored in double figures as the Lady Techsters beat FIU 69-59 to win for the ninth consecutive time inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Saturday.
Paris Bradley led Tech (13-9, 6-5 CUSA) with 17 points while adding five rebounds and four assists. Jordan Marshall had her sixth double-double with 16 points and 15 boards. Jianna Morris chipped in 15, and Robyn Lee had 12 points.
FIU (9-13, 5-6) wasted no time going to the nation’s leader in field goal percentage, Isnelle Natabou. The forward scored 10 of the Panther’s 13 points in the first quarter.
However, Louisiana Tech’s freshman didn’t shy away from the challenge. Bradley, Marshall, and Isla Airey combined for 17 points in the opening stanza. The two teams were even in the paint, and the Lady Techsters held a 20-13 lead after one.
Lee scored the first six points of the second quarter, and the Tech lead grew to 26-13. The lead would stay in double figures for the remainder of the half.
The Techsters were tested in the third quarter. Tech found themselves in foul trouble, with Marshall, Lee, Bradley, and Averi Aaronpicking up their third foul. That allowed the Panthers to make it 46-44 heading into the fourth.
FIU tied it up on the first possession of the quarter, but Tech responded. Lee pulled up from the elbow to put the Lady Techsters back on top. A Marshall free throw and a Bradley jumper made it 51-46 with eight minutes to go.
Both teams would go three minutes without scoring before the Panthers tied it again at 53 apiece. On LA Tech’s next possession, Jianna Morris hit her third triple to put the Techsters up 56-53. From there, Tech would hit their last nine free throws to seal the win.
Louisiana Tech finished 39.7 percent from the field, 22.2 percent from long range, and 68.4 percent from the charity stripe.
FIU shot 41.1 percent for the game but just 26.7 percent from deep and 64.3 percent from the line. Natabou finished with a game-high 26 points and added nine rebounds. Bineta Diatta had 13 points, and Aaliyah Pitts added 11.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Brooke Stoehr
“I’m really proud of how the team closed out the game today. They made their run in the 3rd and our group dug in and found a way to get stops and executed offensively. I felt like we were getting some really good looks in that 3rd quarter and they just didn’t go down for us. They remained composed and never let them take the lead. Jianna nailed a 3 when they tied it at 53, and we were able to close it out with a nice 16-6 run. I’m really proud of the toughness and resolve this group showed at home this week. We’ll recover and get prepared to hit the road next week”
NOTABLES
- Paris Bradley has scored double figures in 13 of the past 16 games, 18 or more in the past four games.
- Bradley extended her consecutive games with an assist to 22; it was the ninth time with 4 or more.
- The 15 rebounds by Jordan Marshall are the most by a Lady Techster since Anna Larr Roberson had 15 against South Alabama on December 12, 2022.
- The 12 home wins are the most since the 2021-22 season when Tech finished with 12.
- Isla Airey has a block in 19 of 22 games.
- Robyn Lee has 980 career points.
- Marshall surpassed 250 points and 175 rebounds this season.
- Tech improved to 7-1 this season when holding an opponent to under 60 points, the Techsters are 80-10 under coach Stoehr.
- The Lady Techsters improved to 8-1 when outscoring their opponent in the paint.
- Louisiana Tech outrebounded the opponent for the 15th time this season.
- It was the Techsters nine straight win at home this season and ninth straight home CUSA win dating back to last season.
- Tech improved to 4-0 when four starters score double figures and 7-0 when four or more players have 10+ points.
- Louisiana Tech improved to 18-4 all-time against FIU.
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech look to pick up the first road CUSA win of the season when the Lady Techsters travel to Kennesaw State on February 13. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT live on ESPN+.
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