Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Oklahoma State
No. 8 Lady Raiders Advance With Win Over Oklahoma State
March 12, 2003 | Women's Basketball
March 12, 2003
By JOEL ANDERSON
Associated Press Writer
DALLAS - When things got tight, Jia Perkins decided it was time to make something happen.
So the Texas Tech forward shook loose of defenders and shot her high-arching jumper over and over again.
Perkins scored nine of her 20 points during a decisive second-half surge as No. 8 Texas Tech held off Oklahoma State 75-52 Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament.
"I was just trying to get us some shots," Perkins said. "It looked like we needed some points."
Texas Tech (25-4) struggled to shake 11th-seeded Oklahoma State for much of the contest. The teams were tied at 32 going into halftime after Oklahoma State's Shelby Hutchens tipped in a missed shot just before the buzzer.
But Perkins took over in the second half, scoring nine points during a 24-2 spurt as the Red Raiders extended a 43-41 lead into a 24-point advantage.
"She just took control of the game," Oklahoma State coach Julie Goodenough said. "She has a great ability to create her own shot."
Perkins left the game for good with 5:55 left to applause from the Reunion Arena crowd of 5,735. Tech was up 67-43 at the time.
Plenette Pierson added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Red Raiders.
Oklahoma State (8-20), which shocked sixth-seeded Missouri the night before, ran out of energy before it could pull off its second stunner in as many days. The Cowgirls shot 29 percent in the second half.
Trisha Skibbe led the Cowgirls with 22 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, but sat out much of the second half in foul trouble.
Still, Oklahoma State fared much better in this game than it did in its two regular-season matchups against the Red Raiders. Texas Tech won those contests by an average of 43 points, including 95-45 in Lubbock on Jan. 18.
"We got whupped the first two games," Goodenough said. "It was exciting for us to play even with Tech. Our kids did a super job of following the gameplan and slowing down the game.
"We got in trouble trying to play a track meet with Tech."
The Red Raiders next play No. 7 Kansas State in the semifinals Thursday. In the regular-season finale March 6, Texas Tech won 73-64 and ended Kansas State's nine-game winning streak.
