UALR women fall to Louisiana Tech

BECK CROSS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

UALR has certainly made strides during its second season of competition, but was shown first-hand Saturday how far it needs to go to become one of the nation's elite.
Eighth-ranked Louisiana Tech (17-4), which has made an unprecedented 18 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament and is a virtual shoo-in to extend the streak, schooled the overmatched Trojans (5-14, 0-9) on both ends of the floor in an easy 83-52 victory before 503 at the campus fieldhouse.
The Lady Techsters notched their 44th consecutive regular-season Sun Belt Conference victory. UALR shot 30 percent from the field and was outrebounded, 55-35.
"We struggled from the field and they dominated the post," UALR Coach Tracy Stewart-Lange said. "Those are things that can't happen against a team like Louisiana Tech. But I was most pleased with the fact that we never stopped battling. ... Building this program is a marathon, not a sprint."
Tech had four players with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds.
"I've got to compliment our basketball team," Tech Coach Leon Barmore said. "They could've come in here and been nonchalant, but they prepared like they would against any other team.
"[UALR] played hard and mixed it up some on defenses. ... This may be the most improved team in the country from last year to this year.''
Roberta Sarti led UALR with 12 points and eight rebounds while Mandi Huskey added 11 points behind 3 of 4 shooting from three-point range.
"Louisiana Tech has the name and they expect to win every time they take the floor," Huskey said. "They exude confidence. We're on the other end of the spectrum because we're still trying to make a name for ourselves."
UALR, which gave conference co-leader Florida International a scare Thursday before losing 80-67 in Miami, got off to a fast start against the Lady Techsters.
After spotting Tech a 2-0 lead on the opening possession, the Trojans reeled off a 5-0 run behind Sarti. The sophomore post scored on a 4-foot jumper and converted a three-point play off an assist from Muci Haris.
Later, trailing 9-5, UALR answered with a 7-0 run. Haris hit a three-pointer while Sarti scored inside and was 2 of 2 from the line as UALR took a 12-9 advantage with 14:49 remaining in the half.
Things fell apart in the next 9:40. UALR was 0 of 12 from the field and had eight turnovers, allowing Tech to score 19 unanswered points.
The Lady Techsters scored twice off layups in transition, hit two three-pointers and added 10 points in the post.
"Their post players are so physical and strong inside," Stewart-Lange said. "We couldn't counter on the offensive end and the game started slipping away."
Eplunus Brooks came off the bench to stop the scoring drought with a 4-foot jumper before Tech answered with an 8-2 run. In taking a 36-16 lead with 2:04 left, all-American candidate Ayana Walker scored inside off an assist from Brooke Lassiter (Hamburg).
Tech extended its 42-20 halftime advantage to 51-22 with 16:19 left in the game. From that point, UALR got no closer than 27 points.

LOUISIANA TECH M FG FT O-R PF A PTS
Walker 28 4-10 4-6 5-13 2 3 12
Lassiter 34 3-8 2-2 2-4 1 7 10
Ford 20 3-9 0-1 3-10 3 0 6
Perry 34 4-6 1-2 0-1 1 1 9
T.Lewis 18 4-7 1-2 2-10 2 2 9
O.Lewis 4 1-4 1-2 2-3 2 0 3
McClain 10 3-6 1-1 1-1 1 1 7
Moore 6 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
McReynolds 2 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Obaze 22 5-10 0-0 1-2 4 1 12
Bibbs 22 7-12 1-2 5-10 1 1 15
Team 0-1
Totals 200 34-74 11-18 21-55 18 16 83
PCT.--FG 45.9. FT 61.1. 3-PT 40.0 (Obaze 2-4, Lassiter 2-5, Perry 0-1). BL--7 (Walker 3); TO--19 (Bibbs 4); ST--12 (Lassiter 3).

UALR M FG FT O-R PF A PTS
Huskey 33 4-5 0-0 0-1 1 2 11
Haris 34 3-12 1-2 0-1 1 2 8
Sarti 28 4-10 4-6 3-8 5 0 12
Strong 26 0-3 0-0 2-7 0 1 0
Drennon 27 1-10 2-2 2-7 2 0 4
Brooks 11 1-4 0-0 2-4 3 1 2
Sweat 13 1-3 1-2 0-3 2 1 4
Stephenson 14 2-6 4-7 0-0 1 2 8
Cash 14 1-4 1-1 1-2 2 1 3
Team 2-2
Totals 200 17-57 13-20 12-35 17 10 52
PCT--FG 29.8; FT 65.0. 3-PT 29.4 (Huskey 3-4, Sweat 1-3, Haris 1-6, Sarti 0-1, Stephenson 0-1, Cash 0-2. BL - 4 (Brooks 2); TO--25 (Strong 5); ST--5 (Huskey 2).
Halftime -- Louisiana Tech 42, UALR 20
Technical fouls -- none
Officials -- Williams, Salsbury, Hively
Attendance -- 503.

This article was published on Sunday, January 28, 2001

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