Texas Tech University Athletics
SW Missouri State-Texas Tech Preview
March 21, 2003 | Women's Basketball
March 21, 2003
GAME: No. 15 SW Missouri State (18-12) vs. No. 2 Texas Tech (26-5).
REGIONAL: Midwest, first round.
TIME: Sunday, 6:40 p.m. EST.
SITE: United Spirit Arena; Lubbock, Texas.
Looking to bounce back from its loss in the Big 12 title game, Texas Tech opens the NCAA tournament against Southwest Missouri State.
Red Raiders coach Marsha Sharp says despite the 67-57 loss to fifth-ranked Texas in the league tourney championship, she feels her team is playing well heading into Sunday's matchup.
"I've seen glimpses of greatness with this group and more completeness than I've ever seen in their careers at Tech," Sharp said. "Now it's just a matter if we can generate that for a long enough period of time against really good people to make it happen.
"We played two pretty good folks in the Big 12 tournament. I think if we can play as well as we did at times in the Big 12 tournament we've got a chance."
Senior forward Plenette Pierson leads the team in scoring with a 17.8 average, while junior guard Jia Perkins adds 16.3 points a contest.
"This is what you work for all season, so we're really excited to get things going," Pierson said. "There are a lot of things that we can still work on, but I definitely think we're confident after going into the Big 12 tournament and picking up two quality wins."
Pierson is also the team's top rebounder, grabbing 7.6 boards per outing.
Southwest Missouri State earned its 10th trip to the NCAA tourney after winning the Missouri Valley Conference.
Freshman guard Kari Koch paces the Lady Bears offense, averaging 14.6 points, while backcourt mate Jenni Lingor adds 13.7 per game.
Friday marks the second meeting between these teams. The Lady Red Raiders won the first, 81-77 in the finals of the Paradise Jam Classic on Nov. 25, 2000.
PROBABLE STARTERS:
SW Missouri State - F Meg Tierney, C Stephanie Buseby, G Koch, G Morgan Hohenburger, G Lingor.
Texas Tech - F Pierson, C Cisti Greenwalt, G Perkins, G Erin Grant, G Natalie Ritchie.
TEAM LEADERS:
SW Missouri State - Koch, 14.6 ppg; Lingor, 5.7 rpg; Hohenberger, 4.4 apg.
Texas Tech - Pierson, 17.8 ppg and 7.6 rpg; Grant, 6.8 apg.
HOW THEY GOT HERE:
SW Missouri State - Automatic bid, Missouri Valley Conference tournament champion.
Texas Tech - At-large bid, Big 12.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD:
SW Missouri State - 14-10, 10 years.
Texas Tech - 24-14, 15 years.
