Lady Techsters fall to Southeastern

Louisiana Tech erased a 14-point halftime deficit and had the game within one with two minutes to play. However, Southeastern would come away with a 59-48 victory in the Thomas Assembly Center on Saturday evening.

Tech (4-2) struggled to get anything going in the first half and shot just 4-24 from the field. However, the Lady Techsters’ defense forced Southeastern (4-1) into 12 turnovers to keep them within reach at the half.

Southeastern jumped out to a 10-0 lead midway through the first. Robyn Lee would knock down the Lady Techsters’ only field goal of the quarter with a three from the left wing to break the run. Jianna Morris’ two free throws would be the only other points for Tech for the rest of the quarter.

The shooting woes continued into the second, with the Lady Techsters only coming away with three baskets. After a block on the defensive end, Isla Airey posted up in the paint and spun by the Lady Lion defender for the and-one.

Tech’s biggest run of the first half would be just three points, as SLU had an answer every time the Lady Techsters scored. Despite the offensive woes, Tech would go into half down just 28-14.

The Lady Techsters’ shots finally started falling with two minutes to go in the third quarter. After a contested jumper in the lane by Lee, Tech forced Southeastern into a quick shot, and Paris Bradley was left open for a three to cut the deficit to single digits for the first time since the 4:27 mark in the first quarter. That would force SLU to call a timeout.

Out of the timeout, Bradley hit a jumper, and Jordan Marshall hit three from the top of the key to pull within two. The Lady Lions would push it back to four, but a free throw with 11 seconds remaining in the quarter had Tech down 36-33 going into the final stanza.

Lee would pull Tech within one just two minutes in, but the Lady Techsters wouldn’t convert after forcing SLU into a turnover on their next possession. Lee would have the first six points for the Techsters in the fourth to keep them within three.

The Lady Techsters forced Southeastern into a season-high 22 turnovers.

A corner three by Jianna Morris tied the game up with four and a half minutes to go. Tech would tie back up at 44-44 and would be down 48-47 with just two minutes left to play. However, turnovers on the next two possessions by the Lady Techsters would allow SLU to grow their lead back to eight with just 26 seconds remaining. Tech would close the game with two more turnovers in their final three possessions.

Louisiana Tech finished the game shooting 31.1 percent, 14-45, from the field and 6-19 from long range. Lee led all scorers with 17 points and added five boards. Morris was the only other Lady Techster in double figures with 12. Isla Airey had a game- high eight boards and finished with two blocks.

“ We got off to a slow start offensively. It’s difficult to find success scoring 14 points in a half. Give Southeastern credit. They’re a solid defensive team and understand their rotations,” Lady Techsters head coach Brooke Stoehr said.

“We got some good looks in the first half and couldn’t get them to go, but we have to find a way to get an offensive rebound put back or go to the line and convert. We came out in the second half and attacked with more purpose offensively to give ourselves a chance to win it with two minutes to go. I really felt like we got momentum and had a couple of offensive possessions down the stretch where we needed to continue to attack the rim and settled.

“We will continue to teach and help this group grow. This is a one possession game we will be in throughout conference play and can learn a lot from if we’ll take the right approach.”

The Lady Techsters will have an eight-day break before their next game when they travel to Waco, Texas, to face the Baylor Bears on Sunday for a 2 p.m. tipoff on ESPN+.