Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Defeat Moscow 107-65
November 13, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2002
LUBBOCK, Texas - By Patrick Gonzales, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
The Texas Tech women's basketball team played the role of gracious host Tuesday night.
That was until the second half rolled along.
The Lady Raiders scored 65 points after halftime to put an end to a sluggish first half and swat a pesky Spartak Moscow squad, 107-65, in an exhibition at United Spirit Arena.
Tech (0-1) led just 42-30 at intermission but exploded on a 30-14 run in the first 10 minutes of the second half to put the game away.
Plenette Pierson led the Lady Raider charge with 22 points, including 12 after halftime, and grabbed 14 rebounds. Jia Perkins added 21 points, 6 boards and 6 steals.
It was the perfect stress reliever for a Tech team that was coming off a disappointing season-opening loss to Louisiana Tech (85-76) on Sunday.
"I think we came out kind of lackadaisical at first, but we finally got some momentum and were able to make plays and pull away," Perkins said. "I think everybody was just excited to come out and get the win."
But it took the Lady Raiders almost a full half before they found their rhythm against a rough and tough Spartak club that committed 32 fouls.
And it was Perkins that sparked the onslaught.
Tech scored the first bucket of the game and never trailed until Spartak reeled off seven straight points to take a 16-15 lead with 10:53 left in the first half.
The Lady Raiders trailed 18-17 at the 9:59 mark before Perkins posted three straight steals and converted them into six consecutive points. She was fouled after her first takeaway and sank two free throws, then converted the final two pickpockets with breakaway layups.
Tech went on to outscore Spartack 25-12 the rest of the half before blowing the game wide open in the final 20 minutes.
"I was really proud of our intensity, and we had a lot of players come off the bench and keep that same type of intensity throughout the game" Tech head coach Marsha Sharp said. "I think we made a lot of progress on defense and just got better as the game went on."
The Lady Raiders ballooned their lead to 40 points with 7:07 left in the game on a Casey Jackson free throw. Their largest lead of the game was 49 points, which came at the 4:54 mark of the second half on a bucket by LaToya Davis.
The only question that remained then was if every Tech player would score. The answer came with 2:22 left when Cayla Petree hit the second of two free throws to give every Lady Raider at least one point.
Spartak seemed a little frustrated by the second-half debacle and took its physical play to a different level when Yuli Khodjayan punched Jolee Ayers in the face while the two were fighting for a loose ball. Khodjayan was assessed a technical foul and was ejected, while Ayers left to ice her jaw.
"We really didn't expect them to be that physical, because they were little and kind of skinny," said Cisti Greenwalt, who finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds. "But they did a bunch of elbowing, punching and grabbing inside, and I don't think anybody expected that."
Tech will next be in action at 2 p.m. Sunday when it hosts the Houston Jaguars in another exhibition.
