Lady Raiders Head To The Northwest
December 17, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2003
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#3/4 Texas Tech Lady Raiders (9-0)
vs. #24 Washington Huskies (6-1)
December 19, 2003 * Seattle, Wash. * 9:30 p.m. CST
Television - Fox Sports Northwest
Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion (10,000)
Friday's Game
No. 3/4 Texas Tech travels to No. 24 Washington for a game on Dec. 19 at 9:30 p.m. CST. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Northwest, with play-by-play by Jim Watson and Rhonda Smith as the color analyst. The game can be heard on the All Sports Radio Network as Ryan Hyatt calls the game.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 9-0 after beating Pacific, 100-39, Dec. 8 in Lubbock. On the year, senior Jia Perkins leads the team in scoring with an 18.1 average followed by freshman Alesha Robertson at 9.6. Senior Casey Jackson is the top rebounder, grabbing 7.4 boards per outing. Sophomore LaToya Davis is shooting 66.7 percent from the field, while Perkins is shooting 54.5 percent. Robertson is shooting 46.7 percent from the three-point arc and freshman Brooke Baughman is shooting 35.3 percent. Sophomore Erin Grant has a team-high 59 assists, while Perkins leads the team in steals with 16. Junior Cisti Greenwalt is the top shot blocker with 16 blocks. The Lady Raiders are shooting 46.4 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from three-point range and 72.8 percent from the free throw line.
Scouting the Opponent
Washington enters the game with a 6-1 record after beating Denver, 82-51, on Tuesday. In that game, senior Andrea Lalum scored a game-high 14 points, while senior Mendiola Gioconda added 13, freshman Breanne Watson chipped in 12 and senior Giuliana Mendiola finished with 11. Freshman Jill Bell grabbed 16 rebounds and Lalum had six blocks. Giuliana Mendiola collected six assists and four steals.
On the year, Giuliana Mendiola paces the Huskies in scoring with a 19.6 average followed by Lalum at 19.3. Lalum is the top rebounder as she is averaging 6.3 boards per contest. Giuliana Mendiola has team highs of 46 assists and 17 steals. Lalum is the top shot blocker with 12 blocks. Washington is shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 32 percent from three-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line.
June Daugherty is in her eighth year at the helm of the Huskies establishing a record of 128-87. She is also in her 15th year as a head coach with a career record of 251-161.
Series Record
Texas Tech holds a 4-2 advantage over Washington including last year's 99-67 victory Nov. 24 in Lubbock. Tech had won five of the six meetings but had to forfeit the game Dec. 16, 1978 due to an ineligible player. Washington's only on-court win came in a 79-75 triumph Nov. 22, 1994. Tech has won the last two games.
A Win Friday Would...
...give Tech a 10-0 record
...give Tech a 3-0 record on the road
...give Marsha Sharp her 518th career win
...give Tech a 5-2 record against Washington
Last Time Out
(AP) - Texas Tech validated its highest ranking in eight years with a lopsided victory over Pacific. Jia Perkins and Chesley Dabbs each scored 18 points to lead No. 4 Texas
Tech to a 100-39 victory over Pacific on Monday night.
Texas Tech was last ranked fourth in February 1995.
The Lady Raiders (9-0) amassed 30 assists, including a season-high 13 by sophomore point guard Erin Grant, while limiting Pacific to 26 percent (15 of 58) shooting from the field.
The Lady Raiders (9-0) scored on their first seven possessions and had six players score in double figures. Alesha Robertson and Natalie Ritchie each added 11 points, and Cisti Greenwalt and Jametra Clark scored 10 apiece.
Nancy Dinges scored 12 points for Pacific (0-5).
Perkins made three jumpers and two free throws in an early 14-2 run.
Dinges hit a 3-pointer to lift the Tigers within 16-8 with 14:35 left in the first half, but Texas Tech countered with 16 straight points to take a 32-8 lead and held Pacific scoreless for 6:10.
The Tigers closed within 36-15 before Tech went on a 20-3 and took a 56-18 lead at the break.
The Lady Raiders opened the second half with a 12-3 run and led 68-21 after a baseline jumper by Ritchie at the 15:05 mark. Tech closed the game with a 20-7 run. Greenwalt scored eight points in the outburst.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech returns home Dec. 21 to face Stanford at Noon on Fox Sports Net. Tech concludes 2003 by playing in the Surf 'N Slam San Diego Hoop Classic Dec. 28, 30. The Lady Raiders will play Maryland Dec. 28 at 10 p.m. CST., while San Diego and Georgetown tip-off at 8 p.m. CST. On Dec. 30, the consolation game will be at 8 p.m. with the championship game slated for 10 p.m. central time. The Lady Raiders return home for a game with Pepperdine Jan. 4.
Lady Raider Head Coach Marsha Sharp
One of the most respected and well-known coaches in Texas Tech history, Hall of Fame head coach Marsha Sharp is 517-159 in her 22nd year at the helm of the Lady Raiders. She has led the Lady Raiders to 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 14 consecutive, and 10 NCAA Sweet 16 and four 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. In May 2003, she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Dec. 15, Texas Tech ranks first in scoring defense at 45.9, first in field goal percentage defense at 29.7, first in won-lost percentage at 100.0, third in scoring margin at 32.9, fourth in turnovers per game at 12.8, sixth in rebound margin at 13.6, 13th in blocked shots per game at 5.6, 14th in assists per game at 19.4 and 19th in scoring offense at 78.8, among all NCAA Division I teams. Sophomore Erin Grant ranks 15th in assists per game at 6.6 among all NCAA Division I players.
100 Points
Texas Tech scored a 100 points in its win over Pacific, which marked the first time the Lady Raiders had scored 100 points since beating Penn, 100-57, March 16, 2001 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Lubbock.
Dabbs Has Career Game
Sophomore Chesley Dabbs recorded career highs of 18 points, six rebounds and five assists against Pacific. Dabbs came off the bench to play 21 minutes.
Bench Does It Again
For the second-straight game, Texas Tech's bench combined for 50 or more points. In the win over Wyoming the subs combined for 50 points as four of the six players scored in double figures led by sophomore LaToya Davis' game-high 14 points. Junior Cisti Greenwalt and freshman Alesha Robertson each added 11, while sophomore Chesley Dabbs chipped in 10. Greenwalt also finished with game highs of eight rebounds and six blocks - both season highs for her. In the victory against Pacific, they combined for 58 points led by a career-high 18 points by Dabbs. Also scoring in double figures were Robertson with 11, while Greenwalt and sophomore Jametra Clark each added 10.
Grant, Baughman Dish Out
Sophomore Erin Grant dished out a season-high 13 assists against Pacific, while freshman Brooke Baughman collected a career-high seven assists.
Season-High from the Field
The Lady Raiders shot a season-high 52 percent from the field against Pacific. Tech connected on 39-of-75 shot attempts on the night.
Best Start Since 1999-2000 Season
Texas Tech is 9-0 and off to its best start since the 1999-2000 season when the team went 10-0 before falling at Iowa State, 62-37, Jan. 2, 2000.
Greenwalt, Ritchie Move Up the Charts
Junior Cisti Greenwalt is now tied for third in career blocks with 154. She is tied with Stacy Siebert (1986-90). Standing in second is Carolyn Thompson (1980-84) with 174 career blocks. Senior Natalie Ritchie moved to fourth on Tech's all-time list for three-point field goals made with 164. Former standout and current Tech assistant Krista (Kirkland) Gerlich (1989-93) is in third with 220.
Tech Ties Fewest Points Allowed
Texas Tech held Wyoming to 26 points Dec. 6, which tied the school record for fewest points scored by an opponent. McMurry had scored 26 points on Feb. 24, 1978.
Perkins Passes Swoopes
Senior Jia Perkins passed Sheryl Swoopes (1991-93) on Tech's all-time scoring list. Perkins currently stands fourth on the list with 1,667 career points. Swoopes had 1,645 during her time as a Lady Raider. Standing in third is Michi Atkins (1992-96) with 2,134 points. Carolyn Thompson (1980-84) holds the school record for most career points with 2,655, while Alicia Thompson (1994-98) is second with 2,156.
Deja Vu
The Lady Raiders shot 51.7 percent from the field in back-to-back games. Tech was 31-of-60 from the field against California and Wyoming.
Go to Girl
After scoring only six points in the first half against California, senior Jia Perkins came out and poured in 23 second half points to finish with a game- and season-high 29 points.
Second D-D for Jackson
Senior Casey Jackson just had one double-double in her three years heading into this season, but after seven games, she now has three for her career. Jackson got her second double-double of the season with a season-high 17 points and 10 rebounds against California. Jackson had 10 points and a career-high 19 rebounds versus Rutgers in the Preseason WNIT championship game.
Senior Leadership
Texas Tech held on to claim a seven-point victory over California and a big reason was the play of three seniors. Jia Perkins, Casey Jackson and Natalie Ritchie combined to score 60 of Tech's 76 points. They connected on 25 of their combined 37 shot attempts for a 68 percent shooting percentage from the field.
Perkins, Robertson Named to All-Tournament Team
Senior Jia Perkins received her second-consecutive MVP tournament honors as she was selected the MVP of the SMU Hoops for the Cure Tournament. Freshman Alesha Robertson was also named to the all-tournament team.
Tech Holds SMU to Record-Low Shooting Percentage
Texas Tech held SMU to just 16.9 percent from the field, which set a school record for lowest shooting percentage by an opponent. The Mustangs hit just 11 of 65 shot attempts in the game. The previous school record was 17.6 percent (12-of-68) by Southwest Texas State on Jan. 1, 1993.
Block Buster
Sophomore Jametra Clark recorded a career-high three blocks at SMU. Her previous career high was two, which she had tallied four times during her career.
Jackson Ties Steals High
Senior Casey Jackson tied her career high of five steals against Michigan. Jackson also had five steals against Southern Miss in 2001.
Lady Raiders Claim WNIT Title
Texas Tech won the Preseason WNIT Tournament with a 74-35 victory over No. 15 Rutgers. The Lady Raiders won the tournament averaging 76.3 points a game, while their opponents averaged just 45.3 points a game for an average 31-point margin of victory.
Perkins, Jackson Named to All-Tournament Team
Senior Jia Perkins was named the MVP of the Preseason WNIT tournament as she averaged 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in the four games. Senior Casey Jackson was also named to the all-tournament team.
Perkins Moves Up the Charts
Senior Jia Perkins moved into the top four on Tech's all-time field goal attempts list and into the top five in field goals made. She ranks fourth with 1,568 attempts and fifth with 683 made. She cracked the top 10 in free throws made with 257.
Flowers to Redshirt
Freshman Tawanna Flowers will redshirt the 2003-04 season. Flowers suffered a navicular fracture in her right foot during her senior season and is currently rehabbing the injury.
On the Tube
The Lady Raiders will make six national or regional television appearances in regular-season play this season. Texas Tech will appear on ESPN2 once and Fox Sports Net four times. On Fox Sports Net, Tech will play Stanford (Dec. 21), Baylor (Jan. 17), at Texas (Feb. 1) and at Baylor (Feb. 8). Tech will play at Washington (Dec. 19) on Fox Sports Northwest. On Feb. 22, the Lady Raiders will play Texas on ESPN2. Tech will also have 11 games broadcasted on the local Red Raider Sports Network.
Wade Watch
Senior Jia Perkins was one of 35 players selected as a preseason candidate for the State Farm Wade Trophy/Division I Player of the Year Award by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
Perkins Preseason Wooden Award and Naismith Candidate
Senior Jia Perkins was named to the John R. Wooden Preseason All-America team and was one of 30 players chosen as a candidate for the John R. Wooden Award, which will be presented annually to the most outstanding female collegiate basketball player. She is also one of 30 preseason candidates for the Naismith Player of the Year Award.
Perkins, Grant Among the Best at Their Positions
Senior Jia Perkins was named one of the top five off-guards in the country by ESPN.com, while sophomore Erin Grant was selected as one of the top five point guards. Joining Perkins on the list were Alana Beard (Duke), Kelly Mazzante (Penn State), Diana Taurasi (Connecticut) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota). Along with Grant, Jamie Carey (Texas), Temeka Johnson (LSU), Cappie Pondexter (Rutgers) and Erika Valek (Purdue) made up the top five selections.
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 218 weeks. That includes the Dec. 15 polls in which Tech is ranked third in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA top 25 and fourth in the AP poll.
