Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Travel To Play Texas A&M
January 07, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2003
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#8/9 Texas Tech Lady Raiders (11-1/0-0 Big 12) vs. Texas A&M Aggies (7-4/0-0 Big 12)
January 8, 2003 * College Station, Texas * 7 p.m.
Reed Arena (12,500)
Wednesday's Game
No. 8/9 Texas Tech (11-1) plays at Texas A&M (7-4) on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. at Reed Arena. It is the 54th meeting between the two schools. The game can be heard on the All Sports Radio Network with Ryan Hyatt calling the game.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 11-1 on the year after beating Pacific, 76-45, last Sunday On the year, senior Plenette Pierson leads the team in scoring with an 18.1 average followed by junior Jia Perkins at 16.6 and sophomore Cisti Greenwalt at 10.8. Pierson is the top rebounder, grabbing 7.3 boards per outing. Fresh-man Erin Grant is shooting a team-high 59.2 percent from the field, while Greenwalt is shooting 55.9 percent. Junior Natalie Ritchie is shooting 39.3 percent from three-point range. Grant has a team-high 95 assists, while Perkins leads the team in steals with 28. Greenwalt is the top shot blocker with 45 blocks. The Lady Raiders are shooting 47.4 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three-point range and 67 percent from the free throw line.
Scouting the Opponent
Texas A&M enters the game with a 7-4 record after losing at Charlotte, 93-72, last Friday. In that game, freshman Natasha Summerville scored a game-high 24 points followed by junior Toccara Williams with 12 and se-niors Kim Moore and Lara Classen with 10 points apiece. Moore had a team-high seven rebounds, while Williams recorded a double-double with 10 assists. Williams also had seven assists.
On the year, Williams paces the Aggies in scoring with a 13.7 average followed by Moore at 12.7. Moore is the top rebounder as she is averaging 9.1 boards per contest. Williams has team highs of 69 assists and 51 steals. Junior Lynn Classen is the top shot blocker with 23 blocks. Texas A&M is shooting 41.4 percent from the field, 23.9 percent from three-point range and 63.3 percent from the charity stripe.
Peggie Gillom is in her sixth year at the helm of the Aggies and as a head coach with a career record of 50-72.
Series Record
It is the 54th meeting between Texas Tech and Texas A&M with Tech holding a 45-8 advantage. The Lady Raiders won both games last year: 77- 55, in College Station Jan. 30 and 95-64, in Lubbock Feb. 19. Tech has won 12-straight games. The last time A&M was victorious was in a 72-68 triumph on March 9,1996 at the Southwest Conference Tournament in Dallas.
Last Time vs. Texas A&M
- Feb. 19, 2002 - Tanisha Ellison had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 17 Texas Tech beat Texas A&M 95-64.
- Ellison was one of six players in double figures for the Lady Raiders, who matched a season high in points and ended a two-game conference losing streak.
- Jolee Ayers also had a double-double for the Lady Raiders, scoring 14 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.
- Toccara Williams led Texas A&M with 22 points and eight rebounds.
- After trailing by as many as 11 early, the Aggies pulled to 24-20 midway through the first half thanks in part to solid post play from Kim Moore and Tammika Simms.
- But reserve guard Natalie Ritchie scored eight straight points as Texas Tech went on a 22-8 run to close the first half and put the game out of reach. The Lady Raiders extended the lead to 29 with about 13 minutes left in the second half, and the Aggies never got closer.
A Win Wednesday Would...
- give head coach Marsha Sharp her 491st career victory - just nine shy of her 500th career win
- give Tech a 46-8 record against Texas A&M
- give Tech a 12-game winning streak
Last Time Out (AP) - Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp liked her team's effort in the second half much more than the first.
Plenette Pierson, one of four Texas Tech players in double figures, scored 15 points to lead the No. 8 Lady Raiders to their 11th straight victory, 76-45 over Pacific on Sunday.
The Lady Raiders began to take control during the final stages of the first half, taking a 36-26 lead at intermission.
After the Tigers pulled within 45-32 during the early stages of the sec-ond half, Tech responded with an 8-1 run for a 53-33 lead with 12:52 to play. Less than a minute later, the Tigers got within 53-37 on two free throws by Jasmine Ewing, but Texas Tech responded again with an 11-5 run to go up by 22 points with 5:54 remaining. Five Lady Raiders scored during the run. Texas Tech held Pacific scoreless for the final 5:39.
Perkins added 14 points for Texas Tech, and Erin Grant and Natalie Ritchie each scored 10. Grant also had nine assists. Gillian d'Hondt had 21 points for the Tigers.
