RUSTON, La. — A win is always a good thing, but it was a little sweeter for the WKU women's basketball team on Friday night. The Lady Toppers (2-5, 1-0 C-USA) opened Conference USA play with a road victory at Louisiana Tech (6-3, 1-2 C-USA), 61-55, to improve to 1-0 in league play.
WKU was led by senior Fatou Pouye who notched her first career double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Meral Abdelgawad also had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The last time two Lady Toppers earned a double-double in the same game was last season's win at Louisiana Tech when Raneem Elgedawy and Abdelgawad did it.
Ally Collett also added 11 points.
It was a career high in both points and rebounds for Pouye. She continues to reset the bar for herself, having scored career high points in three of the last four games.
The Lady Toppers outrebounded the Lady Techsters, 49-38. WKU improved to 31-2 under head coach Greg Collins when outrebounding opponents. The 49 rebounds were a season high for the Lady Toppers. WKU also outscored LA Tech 32-20 in the paint.
WKU held LA Tech to a season low 55 points. In the last five seasons, the Lady Toppers are 42-1 when holding opponents to 60 points or less.
It was a close game the whole way with 11 total lead changes and nine ties. The Lady Toppers entered the fourth quarter with a one-point lead, but LA Tech scored four straight points to open the period. With 6:22 left in the game, WKU found themselves down 49-46. Myriah Haywood got a bucket to get the Lady Toppers within one and Pouye made a layup and a three to give WKU a 53-49 lead. That lead would hold the rest of the game with the Lady Toppers outscoring the Lady Techsters 8-6 in the remainder of the contest.
Plagued by turnovers all season, WKU kept better care of the ball tonight with a season low 14 turnovers.
WKU has won 10-straight games against LA Tech and bring the overall series to a 26-23 Lady Techsters lead.
The two teams will square off again in less than 24 hours. Tomorrow's game is slated for a 4 p.m. (CST) tip and will be broadcast on CUSA.tv.
THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH – WHEN IT COMES TO TOBACCO, QUITTERS ALWAYS WIN
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on WKU Lady Topper Basketball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on Twitter, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
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