RUSTON, La. (Interstat) — The Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters used a dominant first half and a stifling defensive performance to cruise past the Kennesaw State Owls 72-44 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.

A crowd of 1,496 watched as Louisiana Tech (14-5) built a commanding 39-16 lead by halftime, capitalizing on a disastrous offensive stretch by Kennesaw State (9-9) that saw the Owls manage only five points in the second quarter. The Lady Techsters’ defense was the story, forcing 25 turnovers and converting them into 32 points while holding Kennesaw State to a frigid 33.3% shooting from the field.

The game was effectively decided in the opening 20 minutes. After a competitive first quarter that ended with Louisiana Tech leading 18-11, the Lady Techsters locked down completely. Kennesaw State’s offense disintegrated, plagued by turnovers and missed shots. The Owls went 1 for 11 from three-point range for the game and committed more turnovers (25) than made field goals (14).

Louisiana Tech, meanwhile, executed efficiently on both ends. The Lady Techsters shot 43.9% from the floor and were a sharp 16 of 19 from the free-throw line. They also dominated inside, outscoring Kennesaw State 38-20 in the paint and grabbing 16 offensive rebounds.

Paris Bradley led a balanced Louisiana Tech attack with 15 points in 25 minutes. Jianna Morris added 14 points, including two three-pointers, and Kaleigh Thompson contributed nine points, two assists and two blocks. The Lady Techsters’ ball movement and defensive activity were superior, as evidenced by their 12 assists and 12 steals compared to Kennesaw State’s five and five.

The most important sequence of the game occurred late in the first quarter and throughout the second, when Louisiana Tech unleashed a 21-5 run that spanned the quarter break. The run was fueled by relentless defensive pressure. Key plays included a steal by Thompson leading to a fast-break layup, a three-pointer from Morris off an Alexia Weaver assist, and multiple forced turnovers that led to easy transition opportunities. This stretch transformed a narrow 14-11 margin into a 35-16 blowout, from which the Owls never recovered.

Kennesaw State showed brief life in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 points, but the deficit was far too large to overcome. TaTianna Stovall led the Owls with 15 points off the bench, and Keyarah Berry added 10. Emaya Lewis provided a defensive spark with three blocks.

The victory was Louisiana Tech’s third straight and aligned with pregame analytics that heavily favored the Lady Techsters. Kennesaw State, which had won two of its last three coming in, saw its record return to .500.

Louisiana Tech will look to extend its winning streak when it hosts Jacksonville State on Saturday. Kennesaw State will aim to regroup on the road at Sam Houston the same day. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Kennesaw, Georgia, on Feb. 21.