La. Tech downs Purdue, continues Final Four tradition

Posted: Mon March 23, 1998 at 11:50 PM ET

Alisa Burras led the way for the Lady Techsters with 17 points and 16 rebounds    (AP)

LUBBOCK, Texas (CNN/SI) -- Louisiana Tech's senior class thought it might miss out on the Final Four. But it didn't.

Alisa Burras scored 17 points and pulled down 16 rebounds to help the Lady Techsters fend off comeback-prone Purdue 72-65 in the Midwest Regionals and earn a ninth overall NCAA Final Four trip, but their first since 1994.

"It means so much to go to the Final Four because it is my final year," said Burras, voted the regional tournament's most outstanding player. "This is the highlight of my career."

LaQuan Stallworth had 11 assists to go with her 18 points, including four on free throws in the last 30 seconds. Purdue (23-10), which roared back from a 16-point hole to beat Notre Dame 70-65 two days ago, couldn't do it again.

"The pressure got on us and we didn't handle the pressure very well," Boilermakers coach Carolyn Peck said.

No. 4 seed Purdue led 35-30 at halftime and was an even match for third-seeded Tech (30-3) until Tamicha Jackson's jumper touched off a 15-4 run that gave the Lady Techsters a 60-49 lead with 8:02 left.

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The Boilermakers, who had rallied from late double-digit deficits in five of their last seven games, seemed girded for another surge. A baseline jumper by Stephanie White closed the gap to 68-65 with 30 seconds left.

LaQuon Stallworth added 11 assists and 18 rebounds to send the Lady Techsters to their ninth Final Four    (AP)

But Stallworth's 4-for-6 foul shooting down the stretch sealed the Lady Techsters' 15th consecutive victory.

"Of course we were tired, but we had to suck it up and give heart at the end," said Stallworth, who played all 40 minutes. "We wanted to get to the Final Four."

White's 23 points and nine rebounds led Purdue, which returns everyone next season. Fellow junior guard Ukari Figgs added 18 points. "We're going to go back. I think we just build on this," Figgs said.

Jackson and Amanda Wilson each scored 16 for Tech.

On Friday, the Lady Techsters will face North Carolina State, a 60-52 winner over favored Connecticut in the East Regional on Monday.

"There's nothing like going to the Final Four," said Tech coach Leon Barmore, headed to his eighth as head coach. "It never gets old."

Purdue kept Tech's celebration in doubt for much of the evening. Neither team gained more than a three-point edge until the Boilermakers erupted on a 9-2 run near the end of the first half.

"What was said at halftime -- you don't want to know what I said at halftime," Barmore said. "I was very upset. We were not getting it done."

Ukari Figgs scored 18 points in a losing effort for Purdue    (AP)

Barmore got the effort he demanded. Tech grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and forced 23 Purdue turnovers, including three in the last 20 seconds to make certain the Boilermakers wouldn't stage another miracle.

Peck, who last April became Purdue's third coach in three years, said her team lost the killer instinct that had served it so well lately.

"We started playing careful, and that's where we made our mistakes instead of being aggressive," said Peck, who like Barmore was trying to return her program to its first Final Four since 1994.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.