Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Louisiana Tech
Lady Raiders Drop Season Opener
November 10, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Nov 10, 2002
By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS
AP Sports Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Cheryl Ford, the daughter of NBA star Karl Malone, had 24 points and 15 rebounds Sunday to lead No. 16 Louisiana Tech past No. 7 Texas Tech 85-76.
The opener of the State Farm Classic marked the start of the women's college basketball season and the debut of Kurt Budke as Louisiana Tech's coach. He succeeds Leon Barmore, who retired in August after 17 seasons.
Ford, the lone senior for Louisiana Tech, was backed by Erica Smith with 17 points and Trina Frierson with 16.
Texas Tech's Plenette Pierson finished with 25 points. She was suspended last season for unspecified reasons after the first four games and missed the rest of the year. Jia Perkins added 16 points and Erin Grant had 13.
Budke, a former Louisiana Tech assistant, follows a coach who had a 576-87 record, the best winning percentage all-time among men's or women's coaches. Barmore and Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp will be inducted in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame next spring.
The Lady Techsters, who improved to 25-4 in season openers, did not trail after taking the lead four minutes into the game.
The Lady Raiders tied it at 46 after Grant made a free throw with 17:38 remaining to cap a 14-5 run that began in the first half.
But Frierson was fouled twice and made all four free throws and Amber Obaze got a steal and a basket to put Louisiana Tech up 52-46 with 16:15 to go.
The Lady Raiders drew to 58-57 with 12:28 remaining after Perkins' basket. But Louisiana Tech answered with two baskets by Frierson and a three-point play by Tamaka Clay to stretch the lead to eight.
Pierson had nine points in the opening minutes, but Louisiana Tech took advantage when she went to the bench midway through the first half. The Lady Techsters used a 13-6 run to go ahead 31-24 with 7:25 left in the half.
Pierson finally went back into the game but was held scoreless for nearly 10 minutes before hitting a basket with 1:10 to go, cutting Louisiana Tech's lead to 41-33 left.
