(Interstat) — In a tense, back-and-forth battle decided at the free throw line, the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters escaped with an 82-80 victory over the South Alabama Jaguars in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game on Thursday night.

The game, played before a crowd of 1,374 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, was ultimately defined by disparity at the charity stripe. Louisiana Tech capitalized on its opportunities, making 26 of 31 free throws. South Alabama, meanwhile, struggled mightily, converting only 10 of 17 attempts, a critical factor in the two-point margin.

Louisiana Tech improved its season record to 4-3 with the win, while South Alabama fell to 6-2.

Alexia Weaver led all scorers with 27 points for the Lady Techsters, showcasing her efficiency by adding three 3-pointers and going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Jordan Marshall provided crucial support with 19 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, and three assists. Jianna Morris facilitated the offense with 13 points and four assists while playing a team-high 39 minutes.

South Alabama was led by a stellar performance from Amyah Sutton, who scored 23 points and dished out three assists. Cordasia Harris dominated the interior with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks, while Chrysta Narcisse contributed 13 points, three assists, and a block.

The contest featured 10 lead changes and was tight throughout. South Alabama opened the game strong, taking a 20-19 lead after the first quarter behind eight early points from Harris. The Jaguars extended their lead briefly in the second quarter, but Louisiana Tech closed the half on a 7-0 run, capped by a Paris Bradley layup just before the buzzer, to take a 41-37 advantage into halftime.

The Lady Techsters maintained control through the third quarter, building their lead to as many as nine points. They entered the final period ahead 62-55, thanks in large part to 10 third-quarter points from Weaver.

The fourth quarter saw South Alabama mount a furious rally. The Jaguars erupted for 29 points in the final frame, erasing the deficit and briefly taking the lead. A driving layup by Harris tied the game at 70 with 4:45 remaining. Minutes later, a corner 3-pointer from Amyah Sutton brought South Alabama within one point at 78-77 with just over a minute to play.

After a Paris Bradley free throw extended Louisiana Tech’s lead to 79-77, Sutton struck again, draining another deep three-pointer to give South Alabama an 80-79 lead with 16 seconds left, sending the Jaguar bench into a frenzy.

Louisiana Tech called timeout and advanced the ball. Out of the break, Jordan Marshall attacked the basket but missed a contested jumper. Marshall, however, secured her own offensive rebound and was immediately fouled by Diawna Carter-Hartley with 3.1 seconds on the clock.

Marshall calmly sank both free throws to put the Lady Techsters back in front, 81-80. South Alabama used its final timeout to advance the ball. The ensuing inbounds pass went to Sutton, but her tightly contested turnaround jumper from the elbow missed as time expired, sealing the dramatic victory for the home team.

Beyond the free throw line, statistical contrasts were evident. South Alabama won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Louisiana Tech 42-30, including a 14-8 edge in offensive rebounds. The Jaguars also shot a higher percentage from the field, making 31 of 65 attempts compared to Louisiana Tech’s 24 of 53. Both teams made eight 3-pointers.

However, Louisiana Tech’s defensive pressure generated nine steals and contributed to 19 South Alabama turnovers. The Lady Techsters committed 15 turnovers of their own but were more efficient with their possessions, posting an offensive rating of 109.7 points per 100 possessions against South Alabama’s 102.5.

The win provided Louisiana Tech with a positive start to a challenging stretch of its schedule. The Lady Techsters were projected as strong favorites by advanced metrics, with Interstat’s ELO system giving them an 84.8 percent probability to win, but they had to withstand a determined South Alabama squad to secure the result.

South Alabama will look to rebound quickly, traveling to face the Florida Gators on Sunday. Louisiana Tech’s next contest is at home against Grambling on Tuesday.