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 Email this story to a friend  Louisiana Tech's Essence Perry, left, battles for the ball against Tulsa's Leela Farr. |
March 8, 2002
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Brooke Lassiter scored 14 points, including eight free throws in the final two minutes, as No. 8 Louisiana Tech beat Tulsa 57-42 on Friday in the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament.
The top-seeded Lady Techsters (24-4), winners of 22 of their last 23 games, will play Hawaii for the championship Saturday. Third-seeded Hawaii beat Rice 59-36 in the other semifinal.
Tulsa (17-13) lost for the fifth time in seven games.
Louisiana Tech won its 19th consecutive game in conference tournaments. The Lady Techsters won six straight Sun Belt Conference titles before moving to the WAC this season.
Louisiana Tech led the entire second half, but didn't get a comfortable lead until hitting 11 of 12 free throws in the final 1:40.
Louisiana Tech broke out of a 16-all tie in the first half with an 8-0 run, punctuated by a 3-point shot by Lassister.
The Lady Techsters led at halftime 24-19. Tulsa cut it to 26-24 early in the second half, but never tied the score. A driving layup by Essence Perry and a three-point play by Cheryl Ford pushed the lead to 31-24 and Tech was not threatened thereafter.
Ayana Walker scored nine points for the Lady Techsters.
Becky Heidotten led Tulsa with 16 points and Carla Morrow added 12.
