Tough loss in double overtime
By NATHAN HATHAWAY
Louisiana Tech had always had Fresno State’s number when it came
to women’s basketball.
Ten games. Ten losses. All by an average of nearly 22 points. Blowouts,
by all accounts.
The Bulldogs react to a double-overtime loss to Louisiana Tech
on Friday in the WAC tournament. Photo by Joseph Hollak |
So Friday’s double-overtime 92-87 loss to the Lady Techsters in
the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament in Reno,
Nev., was at least a sign of progress.
“That type of loss will catapult you to wins later,” interim
coach Adrian Wiggins said.
Fresno State (20-10, 10-8 WAC) took control of the game early and built
a 15-point second half lead by playing typical Bulldogs basketball —
playing up-tempo and physical.
But with about seven and a half minutes to go in regulation, Louisiana
Tech began playing to its strengths. The Techsters slowed the game down
and begin chipping away at Fresno State’s lead.
Louisiana Tech (20-8, 14-4) applied a full-court press that helped spark
a 21-6 run over the final seven minutes of regulation.
When Tech guard Erica Taylor hit one of two free throws with less than
a minute to go, the teams found themselves in a 73-73 tie. The Bulldogs
had two chances to win in regulation, but fell short both times.
In overtime, with the Techsters up 83-80, Veronica Mack came down and
banked in a 3-pointer to send it to the second overtime.
Louisiana Tech’s Erica Taylor led all scorers with 25 points and
WAC player of the year Tasha Crain had 20.
Mirenda Swearengin led the Bulldogs with 23 points, Aritta Lane had 22
and Amy Parrish had 14 points.
For the first time in the teams’ three meetings this season, Swearengin
got the better of Crain, notching more points, assists, rebounds and steals.
“That was one of the greatest college basketball games I’ve
ever been a part of in my 20 years (as a coach),” Louisiana Tech
coach Kurt Budke said in a news release. “Somehow we found the energy,
the effort and the fight to come back and win.”
Louisiana Tech went on to lose 86-66 to Rice in the tournament championship.
Both Rice and Louisiana Tech were selected to play in the NCAA tournament
beginning Saturday.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, in posting their sixth 20-win season in program
history, will play Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday in Texas.
Swearengin was named to the all-WAC tournament team, along with Crain,
Taylor, Rice’s Krystal Frazier and tournament MVP Lauren Neaves,
of Rice.
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