RUSTON, La. (AP) -- Karl Malone, a two-time NBA most valuable player and a former star at Louisiana Tech, was in the crowd when his daughter got her first start of the season.

It was the reserves, however, who pushed the No. 2 Lady Techsters.

Backup Catrina Frierson scored 18 points as got 51 points from its bench in an 89-62 victory over Florida International in a Sun Belt Conference game Wednesday night.

Substitutes Takeisha Lewis added 12 points and nine rebounds and Brooke Lassiter scored 11 as Tech (18-2 overall, 9-0 Sun Belt) raced to a 50-23 halftime lead and turned loose its reserves to cap the Lady Techsters' eighth straight victory.

Tamicha Jackson and Ayana Walker scored 12 points each and Cheryl Ford -- Malone's freshman daughter -- had 10 for Louisiana Tech.

"It was nice having my father see me play, but I was more nervous about starting," said Ford, who was in the starting lineup as a replacement for injured center Shaka Massey. "I was a little nervous right at the start but, after about a minute, I was ready to go."

Defense also played a role in the one-sided victory. Tech forced 27 turnovers and blocked six shots -- three by Betty Lennox and two by Walker -- against the Golden Panthers (9-12, 4-6). Reserves also contributed 21 of Tech's 44 rebounds.

"I thought the chemistry was really good, particularly when Cheryl and Ayana were in there at the same time. I like that combination," Tech coach Leon Barmore said.

Gergana Slavtcheva, who was averaging 15.5 points per game, led Florida International with 33 points.

"It was a great effort by Gergana, but just not enough against such a fine Tech team," Florida International coach Cindy Russo said. "Tech has such great quickness and depth. They didn't seem to miss a thing with some of their new players in there."