NCAA WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT : Louisiana Tech Has a Longshot Chance

If Louisiana Tech guard Sheila Ethridge’s long-range shots are falling tonight, the Lady Techsters’ NCAA tournament game at Cal State Fullerton could be very interesting.

And if they’re not?

“Then I start figuring out when tee time is,” Louisiana Tech Coach Leon Barmore said.

In a first-round game that features Titan center Genia Miller, the Big West Conference player of the year who is ranked among the top 10 nationally in scoring at 29.6 points a game, blocked shots at 4.5, and rebounds at 12.2, and Ethridge, the American South Conference player of the year who averages 25.3 points, you would think the two might share the spotlight.

But the focus of tonight’s 7:30 game in Titan Gym will be Ethridge--not because she’s a better player than Miller but because Barmore has already conceded that Miller will get her points, and the outcome will depend on how Ethridge does.

“Our inside game is not what it’s been in the past, and I’m very concerned about that,” Barmore said. “I don’t know how we’re going to stop Miller, to be honest. I don’t know if anyone has done that.”

Louisiana Tech has a 6-3 center in Michelle Martin, but she hasn’t been an inside force, and Barmore doesn’t think she can handle Miller alone. The Lady Techsters probably will do what most Titan opponents do--double-team Miller and triple-team her sometimes when she has the ball.

Fullerton Coach Maryalyce Jeremiah doesn’t plan any gadget defenses for Ethridge, who has made 74 of 185 three-point shots this season and tied an NCAA record with 10 three-point shots in a 47-point game against Pan American. Jeremiah said she will put her quickest guard, Cheryl Hightower, on Ethridge and hope for the best.

“She’s about the same size, she’s quick and she rebounds well,” Jeremiah said of Hightower. “She hasn’t been a big scorer for us this year, so I’ll have her put all her energy into defense and hope the others do the job on offense.”

Several others have made significant offensive contributions for the Titans, who have a more balanced attack than the Lady Techsters. Forward Claudette Jackson has been one of Fullerton’s most consistent players, averaging 16.1 points and 8.7 rebounds, and streaky outside shooter Joey Ray is averaging 13.2 points.

Louisiana Tech, which has advanced to the Final Four seven of the past nine seasons, has only one other player averaging double figures, forward Annie Lockett, at 11.0.

The winner will advance to a West Regional quarterfinal game at defending national champion Stanford Saturday night.

TONIGHT’S GAME: Louisiana Tech (18-11) at Cal State Fullerton (24-7), 7:30.