March 12, 2003

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - An ankle injury couldn't stop Cheryl Ford from helping No. 6 Louisiana Tech win its 25th straight game.

Ford turned her ankle midway through the first half of the Lady Techsters' 80-55 victory over Boise State on Wednesday in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference tournament, but returned after getting it taped.

"It didn't bother me that bad," Ford said. "You just have to shake it off. It bothered me with the tape on, but you just have to push through it."

Ford had 18 points and nine rebounds in only 19 minutes, but played only 10 minutes in the second half. Trina Frierson led Louisiana Tech with 19 points, while Aarica Ray had 14 and Amber Obaze added 10.

The top-seeded Lady Techsters (27-2) jumped to an 18-2 lead in the opening 5:16. Boise State (10-19) did not score a field goal in the first 7½ minutes, finally ending the drought when Cariann Ramirez sank a baseline jumper.

Boise State played better in the second half but it wasn't enough.

"Clearly, I'm excited about reducing this team's output against us from 102 to 98 to 80," Broncos coach Jen Warden said. "I'd be lying if I said we did anything but our best."

Louisiana Tech beat Boise State 102-66 and 98-60 in the regular season.

Boise State missed its first six shots and was only 8-of-25 in the first half, trailing 39-23 at intermission.

"With our athleticism and height advantage, we had a bit of an advantage on them," Louisiana Tech coach Kurt Budke said. "But they run their offense as well as anybody in the league, as well as anybody we've played."

Louisiana Tech, which won its 11th straight conference title this season, will play in the semifinals Friday.