Texas Tech University Athletics
Duke-Texas Tech Preview
March 30, 2003 | Women's Basketball
March 31, 2003
GAME: No. 2 Texas Tech (29-5) vs. No. 1 Duke (34-1).
REGIONAL: Midwest, finals.
TIME: Monday, 9:30 p.m. EST.
SITE: The Pit; Albuquerque, N.M.
Duke made it to the regional finals despite three subpar performances.
The Blue Devils can't afford another if they plan to beat Texas Tech and reach the Final Four.
Both teams are making their fourth appearance in the regional finals. But while Duke is trying to reach the Final Four for the second straight year and third time overall, the Lady Raiders haven't played in the national semifinals since 1993, when they won their lone championship.
Duke hasn't looked sharp in its first three games, especially Saturday's narrow 66-63 victory over Georgia.
The Blue Devils, who scored 80.3 points per game in the regular season, are averaging just 65.7 in the tournament.
"I am sure you guys are looking at other number one seeds who are blowing teams out, we can't really focus on that," Duke forward Iciss Tillis said. "We just have to focus on our defense and try to get better each game. We want to be the best team during the last game."
Duke might not get much further if it continues to be so generous defensively. The Blue Devils have allowed each of their opponents to shoot better than 42 percent while managing just 40 percent from the field themselves.
Duke star Alana Beard has shot 59 percent (20-of-34) from the floor, and is scoring 19.3 points per game. But she managed just 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting Saturday.
Tillis bailed the Blue Devils out, going 9-of-16 for 21 points against the Lady Bulldogs.
"I just feel like if our team plays great defense the offense will come," Tillis said. "We have been a little weak defensively in the tournament so far, which I think explains a lot about our offensive flow."
Texas Tech has been the opposite.
The Lady Raiders have cruised in all three of their victories and are averaging 70 points per game while limiting opponents to under 40 percent shooting.
In their 71-48 win over New Mexico on Saturday, the Lady Raiders shot 50 percent (30-for-60) and outrebounded the Lobos 39-30.
Plenette Pierson scored 16 points and Jia Perkins and Jolee Ayers added 12 apiece for Texas Tech.
Pierson and Perkins, the Lady Raiders' top two scorers, are averaging 18.7 and 16.3 points per game, respectively, in the tournament.
"They've stepped up to the challenges that they have had to accept at this point and play with the mentality to move forward," Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp said.
"Tomorrow, obviously, presents a lot of challenges for us."
The Lady Raiders don't expect the Blue Devils' tournament struggles to continue.
"Certainly you are expecting that breakout game," Texas Tech Coach Marsha Sharp. "I just hope it doesn't come tomorrow night."
Texas Tech suffered an 85-69 loss at Duke in the teams' only previous meeting on Nov. 11, 2001.
The winner meets the winner of the East Regional final between top-seeded Tennessee or No. 2 Villanova in Atlanta next weekend.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Texas Tech - F Pierson, C Ayers, G Erin Grant, G Perkins, G Natalie Ritchie. Duke - F Beard, F Tillis, C Michele Matyasovsky, G Vicki Krapohl, G Lindsey Harding.
TEAM LEADERS: Texas Tech - Pierson, 17.9 ppg and 7.9 rpg; Grant, 6.6 apg. Duke - Beard, 21.6 ppg; Tillis, 7.5 rpg; Harding, 3.3 apg.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Texas Tech - At-large bid, Big 12; beat No. 15 Southwest Missouri State 67-59, first round; beat No. 7 UC Santa Barbara 72-68, second round; beat No. 6 New Mexico 71-48, semifinals. Duke - Automatic bid, Atlantic Coast Conference; beat No. 16 Georgia State 66-48, first round; beat No. 9 Utah 65-54, second round; beat No. 5 Georgia 66-63, semifinals.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Texas Tech - 27-14, 16 years. Duke - 23-9, 10 years.
