Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Pepperdine
Lady Raiders Pound Pepperdine, 95-53
January 04, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Jan 4, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Natalie Ritchie scored 19 points and No. 2 Texas Tech defeated Pepperdine 95-53 Sunday, making a strong bid for the nation's top ranking.
One day after No. 1 Connecticut lost 68-67 at the buzzer to No. 4 Duke, the Lady Raiders (14-0) placed five players in double figures and routed the Waves (6-7).
Ritchie connected on five of six 3-pointers. She was joined in double figures by Jametra Clark with 17 points, Jia Perkins with 15, and Jolee Ayers-Curry and Alesha Robertson with 10 apiece.
Pepperdine was paced by Shandrika Lee's 15 points. Kelly Greathouse added 10.
Texas Tech never trailed while building a 50-21 halftime lead. The Lady Raiders jumped ahead 12-2 and pushed the advantage to 29-9 on a pair of free throws by Kisti Greenwalt at the 9:54 mark.
Leading 31-11, Tech ran off 13 straight points. Ritchie keyed the spurt by connecting on three 3-pointers. Robertson's free throws 3:49 before halftime capped the run and made it 44-11.
Tech was just as dominant in the second half, scoring the first nine points and claiming a 59-21 lead. Perkins had three points in the run, and Ayers-Curry and Erin Grant added baskets.
Pepperdine never pulled closer than 28 points the rest of the way, getting to 62-34 at the 12:59 mark on a basket by Greathouse.
The Lady Raiders closed the game by scoring the final 10 points, including four by Clark.
