Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Host Stephen F. Austin In NCAA First Round
March 11, 2002 | Women's Basketball
March 11, 2002
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NCAA Tournament - First Round - West Region
No. 4 seed #17/17 Texas Tech Lady Raiders (18-11)
vs. No. 13 seed Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks (24-5)
March 15, 2002 - Lubbock, Texas - Approx. 9:36 p.m.
United Spirit Arena (15,050)
Friday's Game
No. 4 seed and 17th-ranked Texas Tech will take on No. 13 seed Stephen F. Austin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament of the West Region on Friday, March 15 at 9:36 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena. No. 5 seed and 20th/21st-ranked Boston College and No. 12 seed Mississippi State will face each other in the first game at 7:06 p.m. The winners of both games will play in the second round on Sunday, March 17 at 7:36 p.m.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 18-11 on the year and finished the Big 12 with an 8-8 record. The Lady Raiders are led in scoring by sophomore Jia Perkins at 16.2 points a game and senior Amber Tarr at 11.8. Sophomore Natalie Ritchie is averaging 11.0 points. Sophomore Jolee Ayers is averaging 6.6 rebounds per outing, while freshman Cisti Greenwalt is averaging 6.4. Perkins has a team-high 78 steals and senior Candi White leads the team in assists with 128. Greenwalt is the top shot blocker with 58 blocks followed by Ayers and senior Tanisha Ellison with 25 apiece. Ellison is shooting 55 percent from the field and Ayers is shooting 51 percent, while Tarr is shooting 38.4 percent from three-point range. On the year, the Lady Raiders are shooting 43.5 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from the three-point arc and 64.4 percent from the free throw line.
Scouting the Opponent
No. 13 seed Stephen F. Austin enters the game with a 24-5 record and won the Southland Conference with a 19-1 record. On the year, senior Chaquita Dilworth leads the Ladyjacks in scoring with a 12.2 average followed by senior Jessica Guild at 11.4, senior Latisha Prater at 10.7 and Nathesia Wright at 10.0. Prater is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.1 boards per outing. Guild has team highs of 132 assists and 101 steals, while junior Amy Collins is the top shot blocker with 51 blocks. SFA is shooting 41.1 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from three-point range and 69.6 percent from the charity stripe.
Lee Ann Riley is in her first year at the helm of the Ladyjacks, establishing a record of 24-5.
Series Record
It is the 10th meeting between Texas Tech and Stephen F. Austin with Tech holding a 6-3 advantage. The last time the two teams met was March 13, 1999 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Lubbock with the Lady Raiders winning, 80-54. Tech has won the last six contests against the Ladyjacks. The last time SFA was victorious was in a 65-63 triumph at the Flying Queens Classic Nov. 24, 1983.
Common Opponents???
Texas Tech and Stephen F. Austin did not have any common opponents this year.
Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament
Texas Tech is making its 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its 13th-consecutive bid into the event. The Lady Raiders have advanced to the Sweet 16 seven times, the Elite Eight three times, the Final Four once and won the National Championship in 1993. Tech is hosting the first and second rounds for the fifth-straight year.
A Win Friday Would...
...give Tech a 19-11 record.
...mark the eighth-straight NCAA first-round win for Tech.
...give Tech a 9-3 record in first round NCAA Tournament games.
...give Marsha Sharp her 478th career victory.
Lady Raider Head Coach Marsha Sharp
One of the most respected and well-known coaches in Texas Tech history, head coach Marsha Sharp is 477-152 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) - Sheila Lambert scored 30 points to lead Baylor to a 75-60 victory over No. 17 Texas Tech in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference women's tournament.
Lambert was taken out of the game with 1:10 remaining when she was two points shy of the record of Nicole Kubik of Nebraska, who scored 32 points against Kansas in the second round, March 8, 2000.
The Bears led 41-33 at halftime, sparked by 18 points from Lambert and 15-of-16 shooting from the free-throw line.
The Lady Raiders chipped away at the lead early in the second half. Perkins sank a free throw with 14:23 remaining to give Texas Tech a 49-48 margin. But Baylor scored the next six points before going on a 13-2 run to take a 67-52 lead with 6:44 left to play.
Texas Tech would get no closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
The Bears beat that tradition with defense.
Jessika Stratton added 12 points for Baylor.
Texas Tech was led by Jolee Ayers, who finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Perkins added 14 points and Natalie Ritchie had 13 for the Lady Raiders.
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.
All-Conference Honors
Sophomore Jia Perkins was named second team All-Big 12, while senior Amber Tarr was an honorable mention selection by the Big 12 coaches. Perkins was also named second team All-Big 12 by the Dallas Morning News.
Lady Raiders 3-6 on TV
Texas Tech is 3-6 on regional or national television after losing to Baylor in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Fox Sport Net. Tech lost at Duke on ESPN and beat Vanderbilt on syndicated television, while beating Texas on Fox Sports Net and Wisconsin on espn2. Tech lost at Texas on Fox Sports Southwest, while losing at Kansas State, at home against Colorado and at Oklahoma on Fox Sports Net.
Tech vs. Top 25
Texas Tech is 5-8 against teams in the top 25 this year after losing at to No. 7 Baylor in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament March 6. The Lady Raiders have wins over Vanderbilt, Baylor, Iowa State, Texas and Wisconsin and losses against Duke, Oklahoma (twice), Texas, Kansas State, Colorado and Baylor (twice).
6-0 When 50 Percent or Better
The Lady Raiders are 6-0 this season when shooting 50 percent or better. Tech shot at least 50 percent against Kansas (50%), Baylor (50.7%), at Texas A&M (57.4%), Wisconsin (54.2%), Nebraska (55.1%) and Missouri (52.7) to win all six games.
Sixth Double-Double for Ayers
Sophomore Jolee Ayers got her sixth double-double of the season as she scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Tech's loss to Baylor in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament. Ayers also tied her career-high three blocks and matched her season-high two steals.
Ellison, Tarr Dish Out
Senior Tanisha Ellison recorded a career-high five assists against Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament, while senior Amber Tarr tied her season high of six assists. Ellison also tied her season-high three steals against the Lady Bears. Ellison's previous career high in assists was four against Baylor earlier this year.
White Ties Career High Assists
Senior Candi White tied her career-high 10 assists vs. Missouri in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. White also had 10 assists against New Mexico Dec. 4, 2000.
