Lady cagers forced to run for cover from Tech-nical disaster

Severe storms ripped through the Louisiana countryside yesterday, wreaking havoc and knocking down power lines all over the state.

-- Rene Portland Lady Lion coach

Things, however, did not start off so badly for the Lions (10-7, 4-3 Big Ten). Junior guard Christine Portland scored the first points of the game on a long-range 3-pointer to give the Lions a 3-0 lead. That, however, marked the last time Penn State, in the midst of a three-game losing streak, would see the lead.

Louisiana Tech (15-2) quickly rattled off the next eight points and the rout was on. After the Lions closed to within 15-9, Tech guard Monica Maxwell took over the game and ignited a 19-2 run with her deadly outside shooting. The junior guard burned the Lions with three 3-pointers and helped push the Techsters lead to 32-11 with nine minutes and 47 seconds remaining in the first half.

"(Tech) is very talented, quick and strong," Lion coach Rene Portland said before the game. "They're a team with a lot of weapons and they can really light it up."

The Techster big guns had no trouble lighting the Lions up. All five starters, led by Maxwell who finished with a game-high 21 points, scored in double digits. All-American candidate forward Amanda Wilson punished the Lions with 15 bruising points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Penn State's offensive output paled in comparison to Tech's impressive display. In a game where they had to play flawless basketball to stay close, the Lions were their own worst enemies. They turned the ball over 20 times in the first half and made things worse by shooting only 38 percent.

Turnovers helped Tech put Penn State away by halftime. With the score 42-19 Wilson stole an errant Lion pass and cruised in for an easy layup. Then, after Tech scored its next basket, guard Tamicha Jackson stole an inbound pass for the second time and drained an open jump shot leaving the rattled Lions in a 48-19 hole late in the first half.

For the third straight game, the Lion defense had trouble putting the clamps on the opposition. Tech's 55 first-half points were the most scored in one half against Penn State this season.

"I can't wait to get back to practice because we're going to do what we did at the beginning of the year," Portland said. "We're going to put away the basketballs and concentrate on working on our defense."

One of the few bright spots Penn State can take from its 30-point thumping is its second half performance. The Lions played Tech to a standstill, holding the Techsters to 33 points. Penn State also was only outscored by one in the second half.

Maxwell scored the first seven points of the second half to give the Techsters a 36-point cushion, 62-26. Penn State battled its way back, going on a 24-10 spurt and cutting Tech's lead to 22 with 8:30 remaining in the game.

Stingy full-court defense helped the Lions make their move. After slicing Penn State apart in the first half, Tech found itself struggling to retain possession at times in the second half. Penn State frustrated the Techsters and forced 15 second-half turnovers.

After having its lead almost cut in half, however, Tech regrouped and went on an 11-0 run to finish off the Lions. Wilson capped the flurry with her first 3-pointer of the year.

Lion freshmen Lisa Shepherd and Maren Walseth continued to lead the Lions with their hot play, scoring 14 and 12 points respectively. After being used mainly as a defender much of the season, Walseth again showed the capability of being an offensive force. Coming off her career-best 24-point effort against Purdue, the forward shot 6 for 11 from the field and gave the Lions a threat inside.

Penn State will try to get back in the win column Friday night when it travels to Minnesota to clash with the Gophers in a pivotal Big Ten contest.