RUSTON, La. (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge propelled the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters to a 70-55 victory over the Central Arkansas Bears in a non-conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.

In a contest defined by defensive pressure and offensive struggles, the game turned decisively after halftime. Leading by just two points, 25-23, at the intermission, Louisiana Tech erupted for 26 points in the third quarter while holding Central Arkansas to 14. The Lady Techsters used a 15-2 run midway through the period to break open a tight game, transforming a narrow 30-28 edge into a commanding 45-30 advantage.

The catalyst was a combination of forced turnovers and efficient transition play. Louisiana Tech recorded 11 steals for the game, with several leading to easy baskets during the pivotal stretch. Central Arkansas, which committed 18 turnovers, saw its offensive rhythm completely disrupted after the break. The Bears managed just 21 field goals on 59 attempts for the game, a 35.6% clip, and were hampered by an offensive rating of 77.7 points per 100 possessions.

Louisiana Tech’s balance proved too much to handle. Jordan Marshall, a 6-foot guard from Little Rock, Arkansas, led all scorers with 16 points, adding three assists and a block. Fellow guard Paris Bradley, from Carrollton, Texas, also scored 16 points, contributing three assists and three steals. Jianna Morris of Sherwood, Arkansas, chipped in 14 points and three assists, while Kaleigh Thompson of Lonoke, Arkansas, provided a key spark off the bench with 10 points.

For Central Arkansas, Shae Littleford shouldered the offensive load with 18 points. Bree Stephens added 12 points, three assists and two blocks in 33 minutes. The Bears’ offense, however, could not overcome a significant disparity at the free-throw line, where Louisiana Tech attempted 33 free throws, making 21, compared to Central Arkansas’ 8-of-8 performance.

The first half was a defensive grind, with both teams struggling from the field. Central Arkansas led 11-10 after a low-scoring first quarter and extended its lead to as many as five points in the second period before Louisiana Tech closed the gap. The Bears shot just 7-of-25 from three-point range for the game, while the Lady Techsters were a slightly more efficient 7-of-21.

With the win, Louisiana Tech improves its season record to 6-4. The Lady Techsters will host Central Baptist on Saturday before opening Conference USA play in January. Central Arkansas falls to 7-4 with the loss. The Bears will look to rebound on the road at Missouri State next Monday.

An announced crowd of 1,364 watched the game, which saw Louisiana Tech outperform its pre-game statistical probability of winning, projected at 57.3%. The victory was secured by controlling the paint, out-rebounding Central Arkansas 13-10 on the offensive glass, and capitalizing on turnovers to fuel the game-deciding run in the third quarter.