Louisiana Tech is set to compete against Rice in the Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT) first round at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston on March 19. The tournament features 32 teams and includes multiple rounds leading to the semifinals and finals at Butler University in Indianapolis. Louisiana Tech secured their spot as an automatic qualifier, finishing the Conference USA regular season with a remarkable 17-1 record, tying for the longest winning streak in league history. This season marks the program's highest win total since 2005-06 at 26-6. Key players include All-Conference USA First Team member Paris Bradley, who has been a scoring leader throughout the tournament.

By the Numbers
  • Louisiana Tech achieved a 17-game winning streak in Conference USA, the longest in league history.
  • The team holds a 26-6 record for the season, their most wins since 2005-06.
  • Rice leads the nation in free-throw percentage at 81.6%.
State of Play
  • The Lady Techsters earned their invitation through a dominant performance in Conference USA.
  • Rice was recently defeated by UTSA in the American Championship game.
  • The upcoming matchup marks the 34th meeting between the schools, with Louisiana Tech leading 17-16 in the series.
What's Next

The game against Rice will be a pivotal moment for Louisiana Tech, potentially setting the stage for deeper tournament advancement. If they continue their strong play, they could make a significant run in the WBIT, with semifinal games planned for March 30 and finals on April 1.

Bottom Line

Louisiana Tech's recent success in the regular season sets high expectations as they head into the WBIT. Capitalizing on key player performances could lead them to achieve their first postseason victory in recent years, making it crucial to maintain their momentum against Rice.