Texas Tech University Athletics
Women's Basketball Battles Baylor In Waco
February 07, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2002
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#15/17 Texas Tech Lady Raiders (14-7/6-5 Big 12)
vs.
#10/12 Baylor Lady Bears (18-4/6-4 Big 12)
February 9, 2002 * Waco, Texas * 2 p.m.
Ferrell Center (10,284)
Saturday's Game
No. 15/17 Texas Tech will play at No. 10/12 Baylor Saturday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Ferrell Center. It is the 51st meeting between the two schools.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 14-7 on the year and 6-5 in the Big 12 after beating No. 17/15 Texas, 61-49, last Wednesday. The Lady Raiders are led in scoring by sophomore Jia Perkins at 16.8 points a game and senior Amber Tarr at 11.3. Sophomore Natalie Ritchie is averaging 10.9 points. Freshman Cisti Greenwalt is averaging 6.7 rebounds per outing, while sophomore Jolee Ayers is averaging 5.6. Perkins has team highs of 89 assists and 56 steals. Greenwalt is the top shot blocker with 42 blocks followed by Ayers with 19. Ayers is shooting 53.4 percent from the field and senior Tanisha Ellison is shooting 52.9 percent, while Ritchie is shooting 40.5 percent from three-point range. On the year, the Lady Raiders are shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from the three-point arc and 62.2 percent from the free throw line.
Scouting the Opponent
Baylor enters the game with an 18-4 overall record and 6-4 in the Big 12 after losing at Oklahoma, 69-60, last Tuesday. In that game, senior Danielle Crockrom scored 17 points followed by senior Sheila Lambert with 15 and freshman Steffanie Blackmon with 13. Crockrom had a game-high 11 rebounds, while Lambert had a game-high nine assists.
On the year, Lambert paces the Lady Bears in scoring with a 19.4 average followed by Crockrom at 16.5 and Blackmon at 10.0. Crockrom is the top rebounder, grabbing 9.3 boards per outing. Lambert has team highs of 130 assists and 68 steals. Crockrom is the top shot blocker with 26 blocks. Baylor is shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 30 percent from three-point range and 75.4 percent from the free throw line.
Kim Mulkey-Robertson is in her second year at the helm of the Lady Bears, establishing a record of 39-13.
Series Record
It is the 51st meeting between Texas Tech and Baylor with Tech holding a 42-8 advantage. Tech has won the last 40 games, including the forfeit during the 1989 season which does not count towards the record. The Lady Raiders were victorious in the first contest this year, 83-63, Jan. 16 in Lubbock. The last time Baylor was victorious was March 11, 1983 in a 62-56 triumph.
Last Time vs. Baylor
January 16, 2002 - Texas Tech stopped a streak and averted an unwelcome record with a convincing 83-63 victory over Baylor.
Jia Perkins scored 20 points to lead No. 15 Tech. It's big halftime lead was enough to withstand a late surge by No. 13 Baylor.
The Lady Raiders ended a three-game losing streak and kept Tech's record books safe from an unprecedented four-game league losing streak. Going into the game, Tech had dropped the past three games to Big 12 teams Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma. The last time Tech dropped three league games in a row was in 1986-1987 when the Southwest Conference was still around.
Tech led 48-26 at the break, and extended its advantage to 30 points. But Baylor got within 15 in the final seven minutes.
Baylor played much of the game without coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson, issued back-to-back technicals and ejected.
With a little more than eight minutes left in the first half, Mulkey-Robertson argued with referee Jeff Caudle - while outside the coaches box - about what she believed was a foul that was not called. When she continued to argue and remain outside the box, Caudle gave her a second technical and Mulkey-Robertson was ejected.
Steffanie Blackmon and Danielle Crockrom added 13 points apiece for Baylor.
Perkins, who had a third straight game with 20 or more points, said the technicals gave the team a lift.
Amber Tarr added 15 points and Tanisha Ellison 12 for Texas Tech.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech hits the road again Feb. 14 for a game at Oklahoma State. The Lady Raiders return home for three games - Feb. 17 against Wisconsin on espn2, Feb. 19 against Texas A&M and for their final home game against Nebraska Feb. 23.
Lady Raider Head Coach Marsha Sharp
One of the most respected and well-known coaches in Texas Tech history, head coach Marsha Sharp is 473-148 in her 20th year at the helm of the Lady Raiders. Entering the 2001-02 season, Sharp was the seventh active winningest coach among Division I coaches. She has led the Lady Raiders to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 12 consecutive, and eight NCAA Sweet 16 and three Elite Eight appearances and the NCAA National Championship in 1993. Sharp led the Lady Raiders to three-straight Big 12 Conference regular-season titles (1998-2000) and two tournament crowns (1998, 1999). 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. A 1974 graduate of Wayland Baptist University, Sharp was named the National Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994. She also reaped SWC Coach of the Year honors seven times, five consecutively.
Last Time Out
(AP) - Jia Perkins had 14 of her 16 points in the second half as 15th-ranked Texas Tech beat No. 17 Texas Tech 61-49 Wednesday night, handing the Longhorns their fourth straight loss.
Texas Tech (14-7, 6-5 Big 12) broke out of a 41-41 tie with a 13-2 run that included an open-court steal by Perkins, which she turned into a basket despite being shoved by Texas' Kenya Larkin. Perkins made both free throws off the intentional foul .
Texas (14-7, 6-5) was led by Stacy Stephens with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Heather Schreiber added 12 points and Larkin 10. Tech sealed the victory from the free-throw line, hitting 8-of-10 foul shots, including 4-of-4 by Perkins and 3-of-4 by Amber Tarr in the final 1:21. Perkins also had a four-point play late in the game.
Jolee Ayers scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds in her first career start for the Raiders, and Candi White added 10 points.
Tech, which lost to then No. 17 Colorado 74-69 in overtime on Sunday, avoided consecutive home losses for the first time since 1987.
Texas has lost four straight for the first time since early in the 1997-98 season.
Texas led 20-19 after a miserable first-half shooting performance by both teams. The Longhorns shot 32 percent (9-of-28) from the field while Texas Tech managed just 23 percent (7-of-31), including Perkins' 1-of-9 showing.
Tech improved to 50 percent (13-of-26) in the second half while Texas jumped to 38 percent (13-of-34).
The Raiders hit just one of their first 16 shots but trailed only 6-4 midway through the first half. Ayers had nine rebounds in the first half, when neither team led by more than three points.
The Longhorns missed all eight of their 3-point attempts.
Tech First Big 12 School to Win at all League Schools
With Texas Tech's win at Iowa State, Jan. 19, Tech became the first school in the league to win at least one game at all Big 12 schools since the formation of the Big 12 Conference.
Tech One of Six
Texas Tech is one of six schools this week to have both the women's and men's basketball teams ranked in the top 25. The Lady Raiders are 15th in the Associated Press top 25 and 17th in the USA Today coaches poll, while the Red Raiders are 24th by the AP and 25th in the coaches poll. Stanford, Oklahoma, Duke, Florida and Georgia all have both the women's and men's teams ranked in both the AP and the USA Today top 25 this week.
Tech 2-4 on TV
Texas Tech is now 2-4 on regional or national television this season after beating Texas last Wednesday on Fox Sports Net. Tech lost at Duke on ESPN and beat Vanderbilt on syndicated television, while losing at Texas on Fox Sports Southwest and at Kansas State and home against Colorado on Fox Sports Net.
Tech vs. Top 25
Texas Tech will again play three-straight top 25 teams this week (Colorado Feb. 3, Texas Feb. 6 and at Baylor Feb. 9). Tech is 4-5 against teams in the top 25 this year after beating No. 17/15 Texas last Wednesday. The Lady Raiders have wins over Vanderbilt, Baylor, Iowa State and Texas and losses against Duke, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas State and Colorado.
10 Lineups in 21 Games
Texas Tech has used 10 different lineups in its 21 games this year, including a new one vs. Texas last Wednesday (Ayers, Ellison, White, Perkins, Tarr). Senior Tanisha Ellison and sophomore Jia Perkins have started 20 games and senior Amber Tarr has started 17 and sophomore Casey Jackson 13. Senior Candi White has 11 starts, while sophomore Natalie Ritchie and freshman Cisti Greenwalt each have seven starts. Sophomore Jolee Ayers got her first collegiate start against Texas Feb. 6.
Double Trouble
Sophomore Jolee Ayers collected her third double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds vs. Texas. It was her second-consecutive game to record a double-double.
White Steps Up
Senior Candi White tied her career-high 10 points, while adding three rebounds, three assists and four steals vs. Texas. It marked the third time in her career she has scored 10 points.
Season Low Points
Texas Tech's 61 points against Texas marked the lowest scoring output for the Lady Raiders this season. Tech's previous low was 62 points on two occasions this year (Rutgers and Oklahoma State).
Tech Holds UT to Season Low
Texas Tech held Texas to a season-low 49 points Feb. 6. The Longhorns' previous season-low was 55 in their loss to Miami.
Ayers Ties Career High Again
Sophomore Jolee Ayers tied her career-high 22 points again against Colorado. Ayers also recorded her second double-double of the season with 22 points and a career-high 16 rebounds vs. Colorado. Ayers had 22 points at Texas A&M. Ayers was 8-of-9 from the field. She also scored 22 points against Kansas earlier this year.
Tarr Matches Career High Boards
Senior Amber Tarr tied her career-high eight rebounds against Colorado. It also marked a season high for her.
Perkins Swats Away
Sophomore Jia Perkins tallied a career-high three blocks against Colorado.
Perkins Scores 20+ Again and Again
Sophomore Jia Perkins poured in 24 points at Kansas State and 22 at Texas A&M. She has scored 20-plus points on nine occasions this season.
Season High Assists for White and Tarr
Senior Candi White tied her season-high nine assists at Texas A&M. She also had nine against Baylor, while senior Amber Tarr had a season-high six assists at A&M. White's career high is 10, which she had against New Mexico last year. Tarr's career high is seven, which came against Southwest Texas in November 1999.
Season High Field Goal %
Texas Tech shot a season-high 57.4 percent from the field at Texas A&M. Tech was 31-of-54 from the field on the night.
First Double-Double for Jackson
Sophomore Casey Jackson recorded her first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds at Kansas State.
Tarr Ties Season High Boards
Senior Amber Tarr tied her season high of seven rebounds at Kansas State. Tarr's career high in rebounds is eight, which she had at Rice Dec. 28, 2000.
Sophomore Trio Leads Tech to Victory
Sophomores Jia Perkins, Jolee Ayers and Natalie Ritchie led Texas Tech to victory over Oklahoma State. Perkins poured in 20 points, the fourth time in five games of 20 or more points, and added five rebounds, an assist, a block and four steals, while Ayers had 16 points, three rebounds, and a block. Ritchie chipped in 13 points, tied her career-high six rebounds and had two assists and a steal.
Ritchie Ties Career High Boards
Sophomore Natalie Ritchie tied her career-high six rebounds against Oklahoma State. Ritchie also recorded six rebounds at Duke earlier this season.
Big 12 Player of the Week Honors
Sophomore Jia Perkins and senior Amber Tarr have both garnered Big 12 Player of the Week honors this year. Perkins received the honor Jan. 2 for her play over the Christmas Break, while Tarr was honored Jan. 21 for her performances against Baylor and at Iowa State.
School Record 3s
Texas Tech set a school record for most three-point baskets in a game with 12 at Iowa State. Tech's previous record was 11 against the Cyclones in 1999.
Three-Point Range
Texas Tech tied is season-high 57.1 percent from three-point range at Iowa State as the Lady Raiders hit 12-of-21 attempts from the three-point arc. Tech also had 57.1 percent against Kansas.
Season Highs for White
Senior Candi White recorded season highs of eight points and two three-pointers at Iowa State.
T-Bird Scores Season High
Senior Tanisha Ellison scored a season-high 12 points against Baylor. Ellison also tallied a career-high three assists.
Lady Raiders Dish Out
Texas Tech dished out a season-high 24 assists against Baylor, including a season-high nine by senior Candi White.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Feb. 4, freshman Cisti Greenwalt ranks 15th in the country in blocked shots per game with a 2.5 average, among all NCAA Division I players. Sophomore Natalie Ritchie ranks 40th in three-point field goal percentage at 40.4.
RPI
As of games through Feb. 6, Texas Tech is ranked 11th in the current WBCA/Summerville RPI (rate percentage index). Tech also ranks second in the country in strength of schedule.
Lady Raiders in the Polls
Since January 20, 1992, the Lady Raiders have been ranked in the Top 25 in the Associated Press and/or the USA Today poll a total of 189 weeks. That includes this week's polls of 15th in the AP poll and 17th in the USA Today/ESPN poll.
