Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Hoops Prepares for Tourney
June 21, 1999 | Women's Basketball
March 10, 1998
#6 Texas Tech (25-4) vs. Grambling (23-6)
Date: Friday, March 13, 1998 Tipoff: 30 minutes following game one
Site: Lubbock Municipal Coliseum (8,174)
Series: Tied at 1-1
Tech gets first-ever number one seed
The Lady Raiders received a number one seed in the Midwest Region and will host the Grambling Tigers in the opening round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament. The Tigers are 23-6 on the season and finished league play with a record of 14-2. They are led by junior guard Termika Mitchell, who is averaging 14.2 points per game. Two other Tigers are putting up double-digit efforts. Senior guard Shiakiea Carter averages 11.2 points, while sophomore guard LaKinya Currie puts in 11.4 points per contest. Sophomore forward Nakesha Jewell is averaging a team high 6.4 rebounds per game. The last time the two teams met was on Nov. 25, 1996 in Lubbock. Tech mauled the Tigers 82-44 in their second game of the season. Alicia Thompson recorded her second double-double of the season as she had 25 points and 12 rebounds. Rene Hanebutt also had 12 boards.
Probable Starting Lineups
Texas Tech Lady Raiders No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. G/GS PPG RPG APG 3 Melinda Schmucker So-1L G 5-9 29/29 3.4 2.6 4.3 23 Julie Lake Jr-2L G 5-9 29/29 10.1 3.4 4.0 33 Rene Hanebutt Jr-2L G 5-8 29/29 10.2 5.4 3.4 43 Alicia Thompson Sr-3L P 6-1 29/29 22.9 8.8 2.1 45 Angie Braziel Jr-Tr P 6-3 29/29 14.4 6.4 1.6(BPG) Grambling Tigers No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. G/GS PPG RPG APG 24 Termika Mitchell Jr G 5-8 29/27 14.2 3.6 2.5 22 Shiakiea Carter Sr G 5-8 29/26 11.2 5.2 5.6 50 Demetrice Smith Jr G 5-7 29/5 8.1 2.5 0.8(SPG) 32 Ashana Wright Jr F 5-11 29/28 8.4 5.8 1.3(SPG) 55 Tammie Gilmore Jr C 6-2 27/19 3.7 2.7 0.2(SPG) Texas Tech Reserves No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. G/GS PPG RPG APG 10 Kristi Washington Fr-RS G 5-10 13/0 3.5 1.5 0.2 11 Katrisa O'Neal Fr-HS G 5-6 29/0 4.2 2.1 2.4(SPG) 12 Cara Gibbs Jr-2L P 6-2 28/0 3.6 2.2 0.9 13 Jennifer Cockerell Sr-3L P 6-3 9/0 0.2 0.4 0.1 20 Elesha Walker Sr-3L G 5-6 12/0 0.4 0.3 0.4(SPG) 24 Crystal Boles Sr-3L P 6-2 18/0 1.6 1.8 1.1(BPG) 25 Keitha Dickerson So-1L F 6-0 27/0 4.7 3.4 0.7 31 Kim Martinez Jr-Tr F 5-9 6/0. 0.0 0.3 0.0 41 Detra Johnson So-1L F 6-1 9/0 2.2 1.4 0.2(BPG)
Lady Raider Head Coach Marsha Sharp
One of the most respected and well-known coaches in Texas Tech history, head coach Marsha Sharp is 375-124 in her 16th year at the helm of the Lady Raiders. She has led the Lady Raiders to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, seven consecutively and five NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in six years, including the NCAA National Championship in 1993. While in the SWC, Coach Sharp and the Lady Raiders never finished below third, they won or shared the last five championships, and they captured three Post Season Classic titles. Sharp captured her 350th career victory during the 1997 NCAA Tournament when on March 16 Tech defeated Montana 47-45 in Palo Alto, Calif.
A 1974 graduate of Wayland Baptist University, Sharp was named National Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994. She also reaped SWC Coach of the Year honors seven times, five consecutively. During the 1996-97 season, Coach Sharp passed ex-volleyball coach Janice Hudson (333-199-6) to become Texas Tech's second winningest coach. Sharp claimed the title when she recorded her 334th win against North Texas (82-39) on Dec. 2 in Denton.
Southwest Missouri, Notre Dame come to Lubbock for tourney Along with Texas Tech and Grambling, eight seed Southwest Missouri State and ninth seed Norte Dame will visit Lubbock for the NCAA Tournament sub-regional. The Lady Bears and Fighting Irish will play the first game on Friday at 6 p.m.
Southwest Missouri State Lady Bears The Bears are 24-5 on the season and went14-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play. Freshman guard Jackie Stiles leads the squad with 20.8 points per game. Senior forward Lisa Davies is putting in 15.2 points, while forward Roshonda Reed is averaging 13.6 per game. Davies has a team high 7.8 rebounds per game.
Texas Tech and Southwest Missouri have never met on the hardwood. Probable Starters
No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. G/GS PPG RPG APG 10 Jackie Stiles Fr G 5-8 29-29 20.8 3.9 2.4 25 Yen Quach Jr G 5-2 29-28 8.6 3.4 4.9 23 Sarah Singer So G 5-9 29-28 6.1 2.4 2.4 31 Lisa Davies Sr F 5-11 29-29 15.2 7.8 3.1 45 Roshonda Reed Jr F 6-0 29-29 13.6 3.9 1.4(SPG)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Fighting Irish are 20-9 on the season and placed second in the Big East 6 with a record of 12-6. Notre Dame is led by junior guard Sheila McMillan, who is scoring 13.4 points per game. Senior guard Mollie Peirick is putting in 11.3, while freshman center Ruth Riley adds 10.8 and junior guard Danielle Green scores 10.6 per contest.Riley has a team high 7.3 rebounds per game.
Tech holds a 1-0 series record over Notre Dame. The last meeting between the two schools occurred on March 17, 1996 at the NCAA Midwest Sub Regional in Lubbock. Tech grabbed an 82-67 victory behind the 25 points from Alicia Thompson and nine boards from Melinda White. Probable Starters
No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. G/GS PPG RPG APG 20 Sheila McMillen Jr G 5-10 28-27 13.4 2.7 1.5 03 Mollie Peirick Sr G 5-11 29-29 12.8 2.9 0.8 13 Danielle Green Jr G 5-8 27-14 10.6 5.1 1.4(SPG) 50 Kelley Siemon Fr F 6-2 29-27 8.0 4.8 1.3 00 Ruth Riley Fr C 6-5 29-23 10.8 7.3 2.1(BPG)
Tech wins Big 12 Tournament crown
After spending ten days in Kansas, the Lady Raiders brought home three wins and more Big 12 championship hardware. It was a successful trip. Tech started the Big 12 Tournament off on Wednesday, March 4 by defeating Colorado 80-49. Angie Braziel had 23 points and 12 rebounds. On Thursday, the Lady Raiders scrapped by Oklahoma state 53-49 in the semifinals. Alicia Thompson put up 22 hard earned points, while Braziel grabbed eight rebounds. In the Championship game on Saturday evening, junior guard Rene Hanebutt lit up the Municipal Auditorium as she hit five three-pointers and led Tech with 21 points in their 71-53 win.
Thompson, Braziel honored
Senior All-America candidate Alicia Thompson was named the Big 12 Player of the Year on Thursday morning. She continued to reap honors as the week progressed. After Tech defeated Kansas for the Tournament Championship, Thompson was chosen to the All-Tournament team and was named the Tournament MVP. She averaged 19 points per game and 5.0 rebounds. Junior Angie Braziel was also selected to the All-Tournament team. She put in 17.0 points and pulled down 9.3 boards in tourney play.
All-Big 12 Team
Not long after the Lady Raiders finished their 1998 regular season did the Big 12 honors start rolling in. Senior All-America candidate Alicia Thompson was honored for the second consecutive year with a spot on the All-Big 12 first team. Junior transfer Angie Braziel was chosen to the second team, while junior Rene Hanebutt was again chosen to the third team. Junior guard Julie Lake was an Honorable Mention selection. Texas Tech head coach Marsha Sharp was chosen as the Big 12 Coach of the Year by her peers.
For assistance dial 3
Since becoming the court general of the Lady Raider offense, sophomore Melinda Schmucker has dished out some impressive numbers. The Nazareth product leads the team in assists with 126. "Schmick" is now second for most assists by a sophomore. She passed Camille Franklin who had 92 during the 1984-85 season and Tammy Walker who handed out 103. Schmick will now chase Krista Kirkland, the top sophomore disher with 134.
For further assistance dial 23
Not to be out done, the Lady Raider who holds the freshman record for most assists in a season (134), junior Julie Lake is now fifth on Tech's All-Time assist list. Her 351 career dishes bypassed Sharon Cain who had 311 and Stephanie Scott who racked up 310. Tabitha Truesdale is fourth with 365.
Turnover time
One of the keys to Tech's success this season has been forced turnovers. The Lady Raiders are forcing their opponents to turnover the ball 19.3 times per game. Their highest forced turnover number of the season came against Colorado on Jan. 17. Tech caused the Buffaloes to cough up the rock 29 times. In Big 12 play, Texas Tech opponents are averaged 19.8 miscues a game.
O'Neal steal at it
Freshman Katrisa O'Neal, or "Kat" as her teammates call her, has made quite a defensive impact for the Lady Raiders. O'Neal currently leads the team in steals ("Kat nips" as they are now being called) with 70. Her season high came against Colorado where she accumulated seven nips.
Win streaking
The Lady Raiders are currently on an 11 game win streak that dates back to Jan. 31, when Tech lost to Stanford 71-80 in the Big 12/PAC 10 Challenge. Texas Tech finished Big 12 play on a 10 game conference win streak, The last time Tech lost to a Big 12 opponent was on Jan. 20, when Iowa State claimed a 73-82 victory.
Braziel swat patrol
Junior post Angie Braziel has come to Tech and already left her mark. The South Plains College transfer has 47 blocks on the season. This mark puts her in 7th place along with Stacey Siebert on Tech's season list. She needs only four more to move ahead of Carolyn Thompson, who had 50 during the 1980-81 season.
Hanebutt for three
Junior Rene Hanebutt has 145 three-point field goal attempts on the season. That ranks her in sixth place on Tech's single season list. She passed Karen Farst who attempted 118 during the 1988-89 season. Krista Kirkland is fifth with 158. Hanebutt needs to bucket three more from trifecta land to make Tech's season list for three-point field goals made. Her 61 is just shy of the 63 made by Kirkland during the 1990-91 seaosn.
Leading the way
Senior All-America candidate Alicia Thompson has been Tech's leading scorer in 20 games this season. Angie Braziel has lead the way in six, while Julie Lake has been the top scorer in two. Leading the Lady Raiders once this season was junior Rene Hanebutt
During her career, Thompson has been Tech's leading scorer in 55 of the 124 games the Lady Raiders have played. Prior to Angie Braziel's 20 point effort against the University of Texas-El Paso, Thompson had been the team's leading point-getter in 15 consecutive games. She was the leading scorer in the last 10 games of her junior season and the first five as a senior.
Clutch time free throws
In the last three minutes of a game, the Lady Raiders are shooting .553 from the free throw line. Tech has hit 89 of 161 bonus buckets in the waning minutes of regulation.
Playing time
Juniors Julie Lake and Rene Hanebutt have seen more court time this season than any other Lady Raiders. Lake is averaging 33.1 minutes per game, while Hanebutt is putting in 32.6 minutes of work. In her three seasons at Tech, Lake has put in 33.5 minutes of action.
Watching the Lady Raiders
For the fifth consecutive season, the Lady Raiders have drawn more than 7,000 fans to their home games. In their 12 home games this season, Tech recorded an average of 7,908 spectators. This mark is second only to the 7,936 the Lady Raiders drew in their 16 games during the 1995-96 season. Tech's largest home crowd of the seaosn occurred during the Big 12/PAC 10 Challenge, when 8,266 fans crowded the Coliseum to watch the action
Thompson becomes top conference scorer
Against Oklahoma on Feb. 19, Alicia Thompson scored her 1,000th career point in conference play. She ends her Lady Raider career with 1,107 total points in Southwest Conference and Big 12 Conference action. Thompson is the top conference scorer in Texas Tech women's basketball history. She passed former Lady Raider great Carolyn Thompson, who put in 1,070 points during her four year career.
Thompson for 2,000
On Feb. 25, 1998 in front of 8,174 Lady Raider fans, Senior All-America candidate Alicia Thompson did something that only two other Lady Raiders have done before her. On the second of a two shot free throw at the 5:20 mark in the first half, Thompson recorded her 2,000th career point. Thompson joined Michi Atkins (2,134) and Carolyn Thompson (2,655) in the elite scoring group.
Winning at home in conference play
The Lady Raiders have won 15 straight conference games in the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum. The last loss Tech suffered at home was to Oklahoma State on Jan. 8, 1997. Prior to that loss, Tech had won 26 straight conference match-ups in "The Bubble."
All-time Big 12 marks
Texas Tech now boasts the best all-time Big 12 Conference record with a 26-6 mark. Last season, the Lady Raiders finished league play with an 11-5 standing. That, added to Tech's current record of 15-1 gives the Lady Raiders a two-year winning percentage of .813. Tech is trailed by the 1997 Big 12 Champion Kansas Jayhawks, who have a 25-7 mark. The Jayhawks went 14-2 last season and are currently 11-5. Their winning percentage is .781 over two seasons.
For the Senior record
The 1998 Lady Raider senior class is unique in that each senior has been with the program for four years. Crystal Boles, Jennifer Cockerell, Alicia Thompson and Elesha Walker have been at Tech for each one of the 105 victories and 22 losses. They have shared in three conference championships, one Conference Tournament title, and three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Home sweet home one more time
The Lubbock Municipal Coliseum is entering its final full season as the home of Lady Raider basketball. The Lady Raiders are currently scheduled to begin action in the United Spirit Arena in January 1999. Until then Texas Tech can count on the majestic old building to provide the Lady Raiders with a decisive home court advantage.
The Lady Raiders have currently won 100 of their last 106 games in the friendly confines, a winning percentage of .943. The Lady Raiders have managed a 173-27 mark under head coach Marsha Sharp and a 104-9 record in the last six seasons in the Coliseum.
Tough competition
The Lady Raiders have been picked as a Top Ten team in virtually every pre-season poll. But as Head Coach Marsha Sharp has said, "Potential's not worth very much until you get on the floor and prove it." Tech will have quite an opportunity to prove their potential. In non-conference play alone, Tech will face two NCAA Final Four teams in Old Dominion and Stanford. They will also tackle tough competition from Stephen F. Austin, Western Kentucky, St. Francis and SMU. That along with road trips to Texas-El Paso and the University of New Mexico. But it doesn't get any easier as the Lady Raiders head into Big 12 play. Half of the conference's 12 teams were in the NCAA tournament last season. Sharp knows what lays in wait for her team. "I don't think there is any question how tough our schedule is. It may be the toughest non-conference schedule we've ever played at Texas Tech."
Tech vs. 1998 NCAA Tournament participants
Of the 64 teams chosen to play in the NCAA Tournament, Tech has battled 11 during the season, three of which Tech faced in Big 12 Conference play. The Lady Raiders hold a 7-4 record against 1998 NCAA tournament teams.
Texas Tech vs. 1998 NCAA Tournament Teams
Date Team Score Leading Scorer Leading Rebounder 11-23-97 vs. Stephen F. Austin (UTSA Tournament) W, 93-83 32 - Thompson 11 - Thompson 11-28-97 vs. St. Francis (Cancun Tournament) W, 91-35 18 - Thompson 5 - Washington, Gibbs, Johnson 11-29-97 vs. Western Kentucky (Cancun Tournament) L, 63-69 20 - Thompson 9 - Thompson 12-20-97 at New Mexico W, 65-62 19 - Braziel 14 - Thompson 12-29-97 SMU W, 78-55 26 - Braziel 14 - Hanebutt 1-1-98 Old Dominion L, 71-74 27 - Thompson 12 - Thompson 1-20-98 at Iowa State L, 73-82 19 - Thompson 8 - Thompson 1-24-98 Kansas W, 72-56 17 - Lake 12 - Thompson 1-31-98 Stanford L, 71-80 20 - Thompson 14 - Thompson 2-25-98 Nebraska W, 87-62 29 - Thompson 14 - Thompson 3-7-98 vs. Kansas (Big 12 Tournament) W, 71-53 21 - Hanebutt 8 - Braziel
Fan support during the Madness
Lady Raider fans show up in great numbers whenever Tech plays at the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum. During tournament time, the Lady Raiders have drawn an average of 8,071 fans. The largest crowd to see a Lady Raider tournament game in "The Bubble" was the 8,649 that watched Tech defeat Missouri 75-61 on March 16, 1994.
Dancing in Lubbock
Marsha Sharp and the Lady Raiders made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournametn during the 1983-84 season. Since then, Tech has been to the tournament nine times, eight of those consecutively. Their most successful season was in 1993 when they won the National Championship by defeating Ohio State 84-82 in Atlanta, Ga.
Tech has an overall mark of 14-9 in NCAA Tournament play. They are 8-0 at home, 0-6 on the road and 6-3 on a neutral court. This will mark the sixth time Tech has hosted a portion of the NCAA Tournament. Tech first hosted during the 1991-92 season when they received a first round bye and then defeated Santa Clara 64-58.
Lady Raider NCAA Tournament History Year Tournament Opponent Score Season Record Head Coach 1983-84 Midwest Regional, First Louisiana Tech L, 68-94 23-7 Marsha Sharp 1985-86 West Region, Second Long Beach State L, 73-78 21-9 Marsha Sharp 1989-90 Midwest Region, First Northern Illinois L, 63-84 20-11 Marsha Sharp 1990-91 West Regional, First Nevada-Las Vegas L, 65-70 23-8 Marsha Sharp 1991-92 West Regional, Second* Santa Clara W, 64-58 Sweet Sixteen Stanford L, 63-75 27-5 Marsha Sharp 1992-93 West Regional, Second* Washington W, 70-64 Sweet Sixteen Southern Cal W, 87-67 Elite Eight Colorado W, 79-54 Final Four Vanderbilt W, 60-46 National Championship Ohio State W, 84-82 31-3 Marsha Sharp 1993-94 Midwest Regional, First* Missouri W, 75-61 Midwest Regional, Second* Creighton W, 75-65 Sweet Sixteen Alabama L, 68-73 28-5 Marsha Sharp 1994-95 Mid-East Sub Regional* Tulane W, 87-82 Second Round* Wisconsin W, 88-65 Sweet Sixteen Washington W, 67-52 Elite Eight Tennessee L, 59-80 33-4 Marsha Sharp 1995-96 Mid-West Sub Regional* Portland W, 78-61 Second Round* Notre Dame W, 82-67 Sweet Sixteen Louisiana Tech L, 55-66 27-5 Marsha Sharp 1996-97 Midwest Sub Regional Montana W, 47-45 Second Round Stanford L, 45-67 20-9 Marsha Sharp *Games played in Lubbock
Associated Press All-American Team
First Team - Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee; Nykesha Sales, Connecticut; Ticha Penicheiro, Old Dominion; Alicia Thompson, Texas Tech; Tracy Reid, North Carolina.
Second Team - Dominique Canty, Alabama; Murriel Page, Florida; Kristin Folkl, Stanford; Alisa Burras, Louisiana Tech; Tamika Catchings, Tennessee. Third Team - Adia Barnes, Arizona; Ashley Berggren, Illinois; Nyree Roberts, Old Dominion; Cindy Blodgett, Maine; Katrina Price, Stephen F. Austin.
Quoting Marsha Sharp
On the number one seeding - "I think we did what the committee tells us you have to do. I think we played a good schedule. I think we were fairly consistent throughout the year. They talk to you about rewarding strength of schedule, about playing in a good conference. I think we were very good in the last ten games we played. We stayed undefeated during that period of time. Those factors are all things they tell you are important to be seeded highly. I am pleased with the one seeding. There are some awfully good people in our bracket. I think the Midwest is as strong a bracket as they put together possibly. You just have to go win games." On Grambling - "They are real athletic, run the floor well, play good defense. They really want to be up tempo. They are probably not going to be as big as we are in most spots, even though they have a fairly good size post player in the middle. I don't think you ever take on anything for granted in the NCAA Tournament. I sure don't take Grambling for granted. They have great athletes and anytime you have great athletes, you have a chance to win. There is not going to be anything in our practices other than Grambling is our opponent and we are going to get them. There are a lot of great teams in the men's and women's tournament both in the past that have overlooked a game and gone home. The first thing you learn is that you don't do that. You take every single game as the most important one you are playing because it is. It could be the last one if you don't." On Notre Dame and Southwest Missouri - "Notre Dame is coming off a great experience last year. Southwest Missouri still has a great tradition. They play in front of such great crowds all the time that they understand that atmosphere, and it's almost like a tournament atmosphere all the time when they play. From that point of view they are going to be ready to go. If we are able to survive the Grambling game it will be a real test for us. They are going to come in here with a lot of pride and they are not going to go easily."
On the Texas Tech team - "I think they are playing right now with some confidence. I don't know that we will play ever game as well as we can. I think we are probably going right now with more weapons on both ends of the floor. Our substitution pattern has been effective. I think the players that we are bringing off the bench have a lot of confidence in what they can bring us. They are waiting their turn and can't wait to get out there and disrupt people's offensive sets. All those things together make you feel like maybe we are a little more mature as a team than we have been at any point."
On the senior class - "I don't think there is any question that you want those kinds of players to have the kind of experience you think great players should have. Certainly there are a lot of feelings there when you have coached kids for four years and our whole senior group I feel that way about. I want them to go out in style. I think they have done a great job of taking Lady Raider basketball to a certain level. I want them to go out and finish it in a way they will always be remembered for."
