Lady Techsters set to host Louisiana-Monroe

RUSTON, La. – After more than a week off due to a COVID-19 cancellation, Louisiana Tech returns to the hardwood Thursday night to host LouisianaMonroe in the 56th meeting ever between the two women's basketball programs.

Louisiana Tech (3-1) defeated Jackson State 73-66 on Dec. 8 before seeing its scheduled game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff canceled due to contact tracing timing within the Lions program.

ULM (2-3) dropped a 53-51 decision to Mississippi Valley State Tuesday night in Monroe.

The Lady Techsters lead the all-time series against ULM 46-9 as the 55 meetings are the most ever against an opponent by Louisiana Tech.

Louisiana Tech has won the past two meetings, including a 71-49 victory on Dec 11, 2017, in the last matchup.

The Lady Techsters are 23-2 all-time against ULM in Ruston.

The most memorable meeting came on Jan. 22, 1985, when a Thomas Assembly Center record crowd of 8,925 fans witnessed the sixth-ranked Lady Techsters defeat the fourth-ranked Warhawks (then called the NLU Lady Indians) 79-77 in overtime.

Louisiana Tech and ULM are two of the three Louisiana-based programs to earn trips to the Final

Four with the Lady Techsters making 13 appearances and the Warhawks making one (1985).

LSU has four Final Four appearances.

A familiar face will sit on the ULM sideline Thursday night as former Lady Techster Christie Sides serves as the associate head coach for ULM.

Sides was teammates with Lady Techster head coach Brooke (Lassiter) Stoehr during their playing days in Ruston.

Louisiana Tech boasts three double digit scorers led by Keiunna Walker (15.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Brianna Harris (13.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Anna Larr Roberson (10.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg) while Raizel Guinto (9.0 ppg, 15 assists) is close to joining the 10-plus point a game club.

The Lady Techsters are shooting 44 percent from the field, 35 percent from the three-point line and 72 percent from the free-throw line and outrebounding their opponents by more than five boards a contest.

ULM is led offensively by Kierra Brimzy (15.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Gara Beth Self (8.0 ppg, 15 assists) and Linda Van Schaik (7.0 ppg).

The Warhawks are shooting 37 percent from the field, 26 percent from the threepoint line and 64 percent from the free-throw line and are outrebounding their opponents by more than eight boards a game.

Louisiana Tech is 3-0 at home this year.

Darrell James/Louisiana Tech Sports Information On the baseline: Louisiana Tech senior Monette Bolden looks for a teammate during a game earlier this season in Ruston, La. Bolden will lead the Lady Techsters into Thursday night’s matchup against Louisiana-Monroe. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center. Louisiana Tech enters off of a 73-66 win over Jackson State back on Dec. 8.