Techsters Open WAC Play Thursday at Home
By: Brandon Dunn
Updated: January 13, 2012
RUSTON - After a two-week hiatus from the hardwood, Louisiana Tech will open Western Athletic Conference play Thursday night when the Lady Techsters host Idaho at approximately 8:15 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center.
The game is the second of a men's and women's doubleheader as the Bulldogs open the night at 6 p.m. against Idaho.
"This is an excellent opportunity for us starting at home," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "We've had an opportunity to work on a lot of things. We are eager to get started with conference play. We are playing against a very good team in Idaho. We definitely have to be ready to go. It's important that we take true advantage of opening (WAC play) at home."
Louisiana Tech (7-8, 0-0 WAC) hasn't played since falling to LSU on Dec. 29 and the 14-days is the longest timespan in between games since the school joined the Western Athletic Conference in 2001. However, it's given Weatherspoon and Co. two weeks to work on every aspect of the game.
"I can go either way (on whether such a long layoff is good or bad)," Weatherspoon said. "The plus is we had an opportunity to put in a lot of things, correct a lot of things and build our kids confidence. Any other coach in America would say that it was too long of a layoff, but we kept everything game like. Every day we kept everything game like. We won't be rusty. We will be ready to go."
Tech has won five of its last seven games with the two losses coming to LSU and Memphis, two teams that are a combined 23-7. During the non-conference portion of the season, Tech has used eight different starting lineups while 11 of the 12 players on the roster have started at least one game as Weatherspoon has searched for the right combination.
Senior guard Jasmine Bendolph has been the most consistent offensive player for the Lady Techsters through the first 15 games as the Mobile, Alabama native is averaging 11.3 points and a WAC-best 5.1 assists per contest.
Bendolph is joined by a balanced offensive attack as a total of nine Tech players are averaging 4.8 points or more per contest and nine different players have led the Lady Techsters in scoring at least one game this season.
Idaho enters the game having lost three straight after its 80-72 setback against Seattle a week ago as the Vandals are rebuilding after losing the bulk of their production to graduation last season. The Vandals have struggled offensively this season, averaging only 59.1 points and shooting only 37 percent from the field for the year.
A couple of underclassmen have led the Vandals this year as sophomore post Alyssa Charlston is averaging 13.6 points and 7.3 rebounds while freshman guard Stacey Barr is averaging 10.5 points a game.
Tech leads the all-time series against Idaho 13-0, including a perfect 6-0 record at home. However, the Vandals have played the Lady Techsters within single digits in five of the last six meetings including a pair of overtime contests.
The Lady Techsters are 7-3 all-time in WAC openers including last year's 69-34 win at San Jose State.
The game is the second of a men's and women's doubleheader as the Bulldogs open the night at 6 p.m. against Idaho.
"This is an excellent opportunity for us starting at home," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "We've had an opportunity to work on a lot of things. We are eager to get started with conference play. We are playing against a very good team in Idaho. We definitely have to be ready to go. It's important that we take true advantage of opening (WAC play) at home."
Louisiana Tech (7-8, 0-0 WAC) hasn't played since falling to LSU on Dec. 29 and the 14-days is the longest timespan in between games since the school joined the Western Athletic Conference in 2001. However, it's given Weatherspoon and Co. two weeks to work on every aspect of the game.
"I can go either way (on whether such a long layoff is good or bad)," Weatherspoon said. "The plus is we had an opportunity to put in a lot of things, correct a lot of things and build our kids confidence. Any other coach in America would say that it was too long of a layoff, but we kept everything game like. Every day we kept everything game like. We won't be rusty. We will be ready to go."
Tech has won five of its last seven games with the two losses coming to LSU and Memphis, two teams that are a combined 23-7. During the non-conference portion of the season, Tech has used eight different starting lineups while 11 of the 12 players on the roster have started at least one game as Weatherspoon has searched for the right combination.
Senior guard Jasmine Bendolph has been the most consistent offensive player for the Lady Techsters through the first 15 games as the Mobile, Alabama native is averaging 11.3 points and a WAC-best 5.1 assists per contest.
Bendolph is joined by a balanced offensive attack as a total of nine Tech players are averaging 4.8 points or more per contest and nine different players have led the Lady Techsters in scoring at least one game this season.
Idaho enters the game having lost three straight after its 80-72 setback against Seattle a week ago as the Vandals are rebuilding after losing the bulk of their production to graduation last season. The Vandals have struggled offensively this season, averaging only 59.1 points and shooting only 37 percent from the field for the year.
A couple of underclassmen have led the Vandals this year as sophomore post Alyssa Charlston is averaging 13.6 points and 7.3 rebounds while freshman guard Stacey Barr is averaging 10.5 points a game.
Tech leads the all-time series against Idaho 13-0, including a perfect 6-0 record at home. However, the Vandals have played the Lady Techsters within single digits in five of the last six meetings including a pair of overtime contests.
The Lady Techsters are 7-3 all-time in WAC openers including last year's 69-34 win at San Jose State.
