Feb 21, 2002

HOUSTON (AP) - Johnetta Hayes sank the winning free throw with five seconds left, and Rice avenged a 46-point loss earlier this season by upsetting seventh-ranked Louisiana Tech 57-56 Thursday night.

Rice led 56-53 with 23 seconds left before a 3-point shot by Brooke Lassiter tied the game with 17 seconds remaining. Hayes was fouled on Rice's next possession, and after missing the first free throw, made the second.

Essence Perry then drove the length of the court for Tech, but was unable to get off a shot before the buzzer and the Lady Techsters lost for the first time this season in the Western Athletic Conference.

The Lady Owls (18-7, 12-4) lost to the Lady Techsters (19-4, 4-1) 88-42 last month in Ruston. Louisiana Tech is the highest-ranked team Rice has ever beaten.

Kara Liggett led Rice with 13 points, followed by Lindsey Maynard and Hayes with 10 each.

Ayana Walker paced Tech with 15 points, Cheryl Ford contributed 12 and Amber Obaze 10.

Rice took its first lead of the game at 24-23 with 1:29 left in the first half after Liggett sank four straight free throws. It was 24-24 at the half.

Louisiana Tech regained the lead early in the second half and was in front 33-30 before Rice scored seven straight points to go ahead for good.

The Lady Owls never led by more than seven points, and the Lady Techsters narrowed the deficit to 54-53 on a basket by Ford with 51 seconds left.

A basket by Maynard gave Rice a 56-53 lead.

The Lady Techsters were hampered by poor free-throw shooting, connecting on only 13 of 30 from the line.