Pack The House
 
Techsters Fall Short in Katrina Relief Classic


 

  
Updated Dec 30, 2006 22:54:58


Techsters Fall Short in Katrina Relief Classic


Boxscore

NEW ORLEANS – Sylvia Fowles scored all 18 of her game-high points in the second half leading 6th ranked LSU to a 61-44 win over Louisiana Tech before 5,584 fans at the New Orleans Arena Saturday afternoon.

With Fowles on the bench in foul trouble for much of the first half, Tech built a slim 20-19 lead before the 6-foot-6-inch junior center took over during the final 20 minutes of play.

“She’s a monster,” said Tech head coach Chris Long. “We did everything we could do against her. We had her double teamed most of the time. They just do a good job of getting her the basketball and it’s next to impossible to stop her when she gets it inside.”

LSU (13-1) jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first five minutes of the contest before the Lady Techsters used an 11-2 run to grab its first lead of the contest at 11-9 midway through the opening period.

The key play during the run was a conventional three-point play by senior guard Amber Metoyer on a driving layup, picking up the second personal foul on Fowles with just under 13 minutes to play sending the All-American to the bench.

“I was a little disappointed we couldn’t put a little more distance between ourselves and them (in the first half) with Fowles on the bench,” Long said. “We had some good looks against a great defensive team and we just didn’t knock them down. I knew they were going to come out in the second half and go right inside to her.”

A great defensive effort by Tech in the first half held LSU to only 30 percent (9-30) shooting as the Lady Techsters did much of their offensive damage from the free throw line, hitting 8-of-9 in the first half and 14-of-17 for the game.

However, with Fowles on the floor, LSU hit 19-of-37 shots in the second half as the Tigers outscored Tech 42-24 in the second half.

Ty Moore led Louisiana Tech with 14 points and nine rebounds while Metoyer added a career-high 11 boards.

“I told our palyers to come out of the locker room after the game with their heads held high,” Long said. “This team has turned the corner, and we are going to fight to win this conference and get to the NCAA Tournament.”

Tech opens Western Athletic Conference play Jan. 4 at San Jose State at 9 p.m.