[Information provided by: Louisiana Tech Athletics]
Ta'Rea Cunnigan scored 20 points and San Jose State dodged two late bullets as the Spartans handed Louisiana Tech a 60-58 loss late Saturday night at The Events Center.
The victory was the first ever by San Jose State in 24 tries against Louisiana Tech as the Lady Techsters fell to 12-15 overall, 8-8 in Western Athletic Conference play. San Jose State improved to 11-16, 8-8 in league action.
Following a conventional three-point play by Whitney Frazier with 33 seconds to play that closed the gap to 59-58, the Lady Techsters forced a turnover and pushed the basketball in transition. Junior guard Jelena Vucinic, who recorded her first collegiate double double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, was fouled and went to the free throw line with 12.1 seconds to play.
However, Vucinic missed both free throws and Cunnigan pulled down the rebound and was fouled. Cunnigan hit one of two free throws with 7.6 seconds to play to push the lead to 60-58.
After a timeout by Tech, the Lady Techsters inbounded the basketball to Vucinic who was guarded closely before finding Frazier in the far corner. Frazier, who hit the game-winning three two games ago against Idaho, let fly of the shot as the buzzer sounded, but it came up just short as the Spartans pulled out the win.
Neither team shot the basketball well in the game, as the Lady Techsters hit just 22-of-77 for 29 percent, including only 1-of-16 from the three-point line. San Jose State hit 31 percent (19-61) of its field goals but did hit 17-of-28 from the free throw line in the win.
Tech, which played without its leading scorer and rebounder in Kelia Shelton who was suspended for violating team rules, rode the hot hand of Vucinic early in the second half. Trailing 26-24 coming out of the locker room, Vucinic scored the first eight points and 10 of the first 12 in the second half as Tech took a 36-32 advantage with 16:01 to play.
The game went back and forth in the second half as there were nine ties and 12 lead changes in the game as San Jose State took a 56-55 lead with 3:18 to play and never gave it up.
Frazier led Tech with 19 points and eight rebounds while Vucinic added 17 points and 13 boards.
The Lady Techsters return to action Thursday when they host New Mexico State at 7 p.m.
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