Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Kansas State
Lady Raiders Advance To Big 12 Final
March 13, 2003 | Women's Basketball
March 14, 2003
By JOEL ANDERSON
Associated Press Writer
DALLAS - Plenette Pierson scored 22 points as No. 8 Texas Tech rallied late to defeat No. 7 Kansas State 71-65 on Thursday in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament.
The Red Raiders move on to face top-seeded Texas in Saturday's final. Texas Tech hasn't advanced to the league final since 1999, when the Red Raiders beat Iowa State to win their second-straight Big 12 title.
Texas Tech (25-4) trailed for most of the game, but started to come back after Kansas State center Nicole Ohlde picked up her third and fourth fouls in a four-second span. She was taken out of the game with 10:11 left and didn't return until nearly seven minutes later.
When Ohlde left, the game was tied at 52. That's when Tech started the game-turning surge.
Pierson scored with 7:23 left to break a 55-55 tie, then fought for a rebound on defense and Jametra Clark scored on the next possession to put the Red Raiders up by four.
With 2:46 remaining, Pierson scored on a beautiful up-and-under move to give Texas Tech a 66-61 lead. Kansas State (28-3) never got any closer than three points down the stretch.
Pierson also finished with 11 rebounds.
It was Texas Tech's second win over Kansas State in the past seven days. Texas Tech won the regular season finale between the two 73-64 last week, snapping the Wildcats' nine-game win streak and preventing them from winning their first Big 12 title.
In the first half, Kansas State used its height advantage at nearly every position to keep the Red Raiders from penetrating into the lane. The Wildcasts also outrebounded the Red Raiders 21-9.
But Ohlde's fourth foul early in the second half seemingly deflated her teammates as they struggled to work the ball inside and couldn't keep Pierson from dominating in the post.
Ohlde fouled out with 20 seconds left.
Megan Mahoney led Kansas State with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Kendra Wecker added 20 points and nine rebounds, while Ohlde had 15 points and eight rebounds.
