Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Battle Baylor In Second Round On Wednesday
March 05, 2002 | Women's Basketball
March 5, 2002
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| ? Baylor ? Colorado ? Iowa State ? Kansas ? Kansas State ? Nebraska | ? Oklahoma ? Oklahoma State ? Missouri ? Texas ? Texas A&M ? Texas Tech |
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No. 7 seed #17/17 Texas Tech Lady Raiders (18-10/8-8 Big 12)
vs.
No. 2 seed #7/7 Baylor Lady Bears (24-4/12-4 Big 12)
March 6, 2002 * Kansas City, Mo. * 6 p.m.
Municipal Auditorium (9,700)
Wednesday's Game
No. 7 seed and 17th-ranked Texas Tech will take on No. 2 seed and seventh-ranked Baylor in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo., March 6 at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net with Bill Land and Debbie Antonelli calling the game. The winner of the game with face the winner of the No. 3 seed Colorado/No. 5 seed Iowa State game in the semifinals at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 18-10 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 16.3 points a game and senior Amber Tarr at 12.0. Sophomore Natalie Ritchie is averaging 11.0 points. Freshman Cisti Greenwalt is averaging 6.6 rebounds per outing, while sophomore Jolee Ayers is averaging 6.5. Perkins has a team-high 77 steals and senior Candi White leads the team in assists with 124. Greenwalt is the top shot blocker with 57 blocks followed by senior Tanisha Ellison with 25. Ellison is shooting 56.1 percent from the field and Ayers is shooting 51.6 percent, while Tarr is shooting 39.7 percent from three-point range. On the year, the Lady Raiders are shooting 43.8 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from the three-point arc and 63.8 percent from the free throw line.
Scouting the Opponent
No. 2 seed and seventh-ranked Baylor enters the game with a 24-4 overall record and finished second in the Big 12 with a 12-4 mark.
On the year, senior Sheila Lambert paces the Lady Bears in scoring with a 19.9 average followed by senior Danielle Crockrom at 17.6 and freshman Steffanie Blackmon at 9.5. Crockrom is the top rebounder, grabbing 9.3 board per outing. Lambert has team highs of 171 assists and 87 steals. Crockrom is the top shot blocker with 29 blocks. On the year, Baylor is shooting 45 percent from the field, 32.5 percent from three-point range and 73.6 percent from the charity stripe.
Kim Mulkey-Robertson is in her second year at the helm of the Lady Bears, establishing a career record of 45-13.
Series Record
It is the 52nd meeting between Texas Tech and Baylor with Tech holding a 42-9 advantage (including a forfeit in 1989). The Lady Raiders were victorious in the first contest this year, 83-63, Jan. 16 in Lubbock, while Baylor won the second game, 85-69, Feb. 9 in Waco.
Last Time vs. Baylor
Feb. 9, 2002 - Baylor's Danielle Crockrom wanted to end her career with at least one victory over Texas Tech, a team the Lady Bears hadn't beaten since 1983.
She led the way Saturday in her final regular-season game against Tech, going 14-of-15 from the field and scoring a season-high 31 points as No. 10 Baylor beat No. 15 Texas Tech 85-69 to end the Lady Raiders' 39-game winning streak in the series.
The last time Baylor beat Texas Tech was in the Southwest Conference tournament.
Sheila Lambert added 22 points for Baylor.
Amber Tarr led Texas Tech with 25 points, hitting a career-high seven 3-pointers in nine attempts. Cisti Greenwalt scored 19 points for the Lady Raiders.
Baylor trailed 30-29 at the half but outscored Texas Tech 56-39 in the second half with Crockrom going 9-of-9 from the field and scoring 19 points.
The Lady Bears shot 82 percent in the second half, making 23-of-28 attempts, and held Texas Tech to 14 field goals on 33 shots for 42 percent.
Baylor trailed 30-29 at the half, but outscored Texas Tech 56-39 in the final 20 minutes with Crockrom going 9 of 9 from the field and scoring 19 points.
The Lady Bears shot 82 percent in the second half, making 23 of 28 attempts, and held Texas Tech to 14 field goals on 33 shots for 42 percent.
Tarr scored 16 points in the first half, connecting on 6 of 8 shots including 4 of 5 3-pointers.
Texas Tech went on an early 9-0 run and led 24-13 with just over eight minutes remaining before halftime. But Baylor outscored the Lady Raiders 16-6 to close the first half and trail by just a point.
In an error-plagued first half, Texas Tech committed 16 turnovers, while Baylor had 11.
A Win on Tuesday Would...
...give Texas Tech a 19-10 overall record
...give Marsha Sharp her 478th career win
...make Tech 43-9 against Baylor
...give Tech a 10-3 record in the Big 12 Tournament
...give seniors Tanisha Ellison and Amber Tarr their 102nd career win
Lady Raider Head Coach Marsha Sharp
One of the most respected and well-known coaches in Texas Tech history, head coach Marsha Sharp is 477-151 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 scored 24 points to lead No. 17 Texas Tech to a 78-51 victory over Missouri in the first round of the Big 12 Conference tournament on Tuesday night.
Jolee Ayers added 11 points and Natalie Ritchie had 10 for the Red Raiders (18-10). Reserve Cisti Greenwalt had 11 rebounds, and Candi White finished with 10 assists.
Natalie Bright led Missouri (14-14) with 11 points. Evan Unrau added nine points and 11 rebounds.
Texas Tech dominated from the outset and built a 39-24 lead by halftime.
The Red Raiders used a 19-9 run at the start of the second half to put the game out of reach.
Texas Tech shot 48 percent from the field and outrebounded Missouri 22-14. The Red Raiders shot 30 percent. Texas Tech will play No. 7 Baylor in the second round on Wednesday.
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.
Lady Raiders 3-5 on TV
Texas Tech is now 3-5 on regional or national television this season after beating Wisconsin on espn2 Feb. 17. Tech lost at Duke on ESPN and beat Vanderbilt on syndicated television, while beating Texas on Fox Sports Net. 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 5-7 against teams in the top 25 this year after losing at No. 5 Oklahoma Feb. 27. 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.
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.
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.
9-3 in Big 12 Tourney
Texas Tech improved its Big 12 Tournament record to 9-3 with a 78-51 victory over Missouri in the first round.
Fifth-Straight Opening Win
Texas Tech has now won its fifth-straight opening game of the Big 12 Tournament. Tech lost its first game of the league tournament to Kansas in the 1997 inaugural tournament.
11 Lineups in 28 Games
Texas Tech has used 11 different lineups in its 28 games this year. Senior Tanisha Ellison and sophomore Jia Perkins have started 27 games and senior Amber Tarr has started 23. Senior Candi White has 18 starts, while sophomore Casey Jackson has 13. Sophomores Jolee Ayers and Natalie Ritchie have eight starts each. Freshman Cisti Greenwalt has seven.
Greenwalt Named Big 12 Rookie of the Week
Freshman Cisti Greenwalt was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week Feb. 25 for her performances against Texas A&M and Nebraska. Against Texas A&M, she scored 11 points and added seven rebounds, three blocks and a steal. She was 3-for-5 from the field for 60 percent and perfect from the free throw line at 5-for-5. Against Nebraska, Greenwalt chipped in eight points, going 3-for-4 from the field for 75 percent. She was also 2-for-2 from the free throw line, while adding five rebounds and three blocks.
Academic Honors
Senior Amber Tarr was named second team Verizon Academic All-District VI on Feb. 21, while she, sophomores Jolee Ayers and Casey Jackson and senior Candi White were named first team Academic All-Big 12 on Feb. 26. Senior Tanisha Ellison was named second team Academic All-Big 12.
Getting 100
Seniors Tanisha Ellison and Amber Tarr captured their 100th-career win at Texas Tech with the win over Nebraska. As freshmen, they won 30 games, while winning 28 as sophomores, 25 as juniors and 18 so far as seniors. Tech's other senior, Candi White, was a junior college transfer and has won 43 games as a Lady Raider.
99 For Lady Raiders
Texas Tech's 99 points against Nebraska was a season-high for the Lady Raiders. Their previous season high was 95 against Southern Miss and Texas A&M. It was the second-straight game Tech had scored over 90 points. It also marked the most points Nebraska had allowed since Penn State scored 102 points on Jan. 2, 1993 in State College.
Third Time for 21 - New 3-point High
Sophomore Natalie Ritchie tied her career-high 21 points, while setting a career-high six three-pointers against Nebraska. It was the third time this season Ritchie has recorded 21 points.
Jackson Career High Boards
Sophomore Casey Jackson grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds against the Huskers. Her previous career high was 10 at Kansas State earlier this year.
Career Highs for White and Daniels
Senior Candi White and freshman LaTosha Daniels both scored career highs against Nebraska. White tallied 12 points, while Daniels scored eight. White's previous career high was 10 points on three occasions. Daniels' previous career high was three points twice this season.
23 on the 23rd
Sophomore Jia Perkins scored 23 points against Nebraska on Feb. 23. It was also Perkins' 20th birthday. She has scored 20 or more points on 10 occasions this season.
Greenwalt Eighth on Single-Season List
Freshman Cisti Greenwalt now ranks fifth on Tech's all-time single-season list in blocks with 57 blocks. Crystal Boles stands in fourth with 62, which occurred during the 1995-96 season.
T Gets New Career High
Senior Tanisha Ellison recorded a career-high 19 points, while adding a season-high 14 rebounds for her first double-double of the season vs. Texas A&M. Ellison's previous career high was 15 at Missouri last year.
Fourth Double-Double for Ayers
Sophomore Jolee Ayers recorded her fourth double-double of the season against Texas A&M. Ayers poured in 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
Tech Finishes Non-Conference with 9-2 Mark
Texas Tech finished its non-conference season with a 9-2 record after beating Wisconsin in the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge. Tech is now 4-0 all-time against the Badgers.
Perkins Returns
Sophomore Jia Perkins returned to form against Wisconsin. Perkins led Tech over the Badgers with 19 points, while adding six rebounds, five assists and four steals and committing just one turnover.
Season Low Points
Texas Tech's 55 points at Oklahoma State marked the lowest scoring output for the Lady Raiders this season. Tech's previous low was 61 points against Texas Feb. 6.
Greenwalt Scores Career High
Freshman Cisti Greenwalt came off the bench at Baylor and scored a career-high 19 points in 18 minutes of action.
Big 12 Player and Rookie of the Week Honors
Sophomore Jia Perkins and senior Amber Tarr have both garnered Big 12 Player of the Week honors this year, while freshman Cisti Greenwalt was named Big 12 Rookie of the Week. 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. Greenwalt received her honor Feb. 25.
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.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Feb. 25, freshman Cisti Greenwalt ranks 26th in the country in blocked shots per game with a 2.2 average, among all NCAA Division I players. In three-point field goal percentage, senior Amber Tarr ranks 27th at 40.4 and sophomore Natalie Ritchie is 33rd at 39.9. As a team, the Lady Raiders rank 34th in scoring margin at 10.3 and 38th in three-point field goal percentage at 36.6.
RPI
As of games through March 4, Texas Tech is ranked 12th 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 193 weeks. That includes this week's polls of 17th in the AP poll and 17th in the USA Today/ESPN poll.
