RUSTON, LA ? Shanavia Dowdell scored 20 points to lead Louisiana Tech to an 82-59 non-conference women's basketball victory over Sam Houston State Saturday night.

Two Bearkats, Bre Agnew and Leasa Ailshie, scored in double figures with 10 points each.

Sam Houston State jumped out to a 4-2 lead on a layup by Whitney Smith. The Techsters responded with a 16-4 run to go up 18-8 on Whitney Jones' jumped eight minutes into the first half.

Louisiana Tech never trailed again, building a 41-31 halftime margin and outscoring the Bearkats 41-28 in the second half.

Lydia Gonzales added nine points and Smith scored eight for Sam Houston. Adrienne Johnson scored 18 point Louisiana Tech.

The Bearkats hit only 27 percent (18-of-65) from the field. The Techsters out-boarded the Bearkats 58-43. Sam Houston was 20-of-32 at the free throw line.

Sam Houston State will break for finals next week, then play another road contest Saturday afternoon at Texas Southern. The Bearkat women do not return home to Johnson Coliseum until December 31 when they host Akron.