Louisiana Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon and Hawai'i counterpart Pat Charity have a couple of things in common.

Both began this season as associate coaches at their respective women's basketball programs.

Both made their head coaching debuts against each other Feb. 13.

Both now have four games under their belts at their new positions.

There appears to be a big difference, however, in the quality of their teams.

Weatherspoon's Lady Techsters showed they are superior yesterday in an 89-71 victory in front of 236 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Louisiana Tech, which led by as many as 29, improved to 16-11 overall and 9-4 in the Western Athletic Conference. Hawai'i fell to 6-20 and 3-10.

Louisiana Tech was simply too athletic and too accurate for Hawai'i.

The Lady Techsters finished 33 of 61 from the field, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range, with many buckets coming on drives and kick outs, or players elevating over Rainbow Wahine on jumpers.

"They shot the ball well," said Charity, Hawai'i's acting head coach. "They shot the ball well inside, they shot the ball well outside. Not our night tonight."

Louisiana Tech's Adrienne Johnson, a 6-foot sophomore, was 9 of 15 from the field and finished with 23 points.

"They hit everything, especially No. 33 (Johnson)," said Megan Tinnin, who led Hawai'i with 17 points.

The Lady Techsters are 4-0 since Weatherspoon took over for Chris Long, who was fired Feb. 9. She is the interim head coach.

"Yes, they have responded very well," said Weatherspoon, who played seven seasons with the WNBA's New York Liberty and one with the Los Angeles Sparks. "Situations are what they are."

Louisiana Tech went on an 18-7 run over the final 4:05 of the first half to take a 49-33 lead.

Hawai'i scored the first four points of the second half, but Louisiana Tech pulled away with an 11-0 run to make it 60-37 with 14:54 left.

The Lady Techsters' largest lead was 70-41 after Jasmine Bendolph's basket with 9:25 left.

The Rainbow Wahine committed 21 turnovers, with 13 coming in the second half.

"They did exactly what we asked them to do," said Weatherspoon, who is coaching her alma mater. "They came out in the first half somewhat lethargic. But in the second half we picked it up defensively. That's where we excel, on the defensive end."

Louisiana Tech fell one point short of tying the most allowed by Hawai'i this season (a 90-74 loss to Purdue on Nov. 29).

When the teams met Feb. 13, host Louisiana Tech won, 68-56.

Tarkeisha Wysinger scored 12 points off the bench, Tiawana Pringle added 11 and Whitney Jones 10 for the Lady Techsters, who were 5 of 9 from 3-point range in the first half.

"We allowed them, when they set the screens, to get wide-open 3s," Charity said. "Our post players didn't step up because they were afraid of the big girls slipping (to the basket) on them."

Charity added she was disappointed with her team's rebounding. Louisiana Tech held a 39-30 advantage on the boards with Johnson grabbing nine.

Hawai'i is 1-3 since Charity took over for Jim Bolla, who is being investigated by the school after allegedly kicking at one of his players earlier in the season.

Hawai'i matched the program record for most losses in a season with three regular-season games remaining.

The Rainbow Wahine played without forward Tara Hittle, who injured her left knee Friday in a victory over New Mexico State.