Texas Tech University Athletics
Women's Basketball Prepares for 2004-05 Season
October 13, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 13, 2004
By Chelsea Thompson, Athletic Media Relations - There should be no question as to why the United Spirit Arena has been nicknamed Lady Raider Nation. The fan support is incredible and the loyalty is not seen much anywhere else. The sound of victory bells is a regular occurrence for the team. In fact, it has grown to be a tradition for most Techsans. This season will be no exception to the rule.
The team is coming off of a 25-8 season in which it had to overcome a lot of adversity, but also made their mark in the record books. Tech received its first No. 1 ranking during the regular season after starting the season with a stunning 15-0 record, marking the best start in school history. The Lady Raiders also knocked off the No. 1 team in the country, Texas, in front of a sold-out crowd at the United Spirit Arena on national television. It was the first time Tech had beaten a team ranked No. 1 in the nation during regular-season play.
The 2004-05 team enters the season with a veteran coach, experienced letterwinners and talented newcomers. "Every year we have automatic goals. We want to win 20 games to get into the NCAA tournament, and finish in the top of the conference," said head coach Marsha Sharp. As diverse as the Lady Raiders are, the conference is not a couple of baby steps. Competing in the Big 12 Conference is a huge task, especially when you do not have home court advantage. Tech will travel to opponents like Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Texas A&M. If anyone can compete successfully on the road it will be the Lady Raiders.
"Every year the Big 12 conference will be difficult," said Sharp. "It is a great league and I am coaching against great coaches. We understand that this conference is difficult, and it forces us to play at high level of excellence."
In her 23rd year at the helm of the Lady Raiders, Sharp is excited about what is in store for this group of ladies. The team returns six letterwinners and welcomes six newcomers, including two redshirt freshmen. Enrica Johnson and Tawanna Flowers return to the court after sitting out last season with injuries. The lone senior, Cisti Greenwalt, returns for her final season after becoming the school's career leader in blocked shots last year with 195. Along with Greenwalt, Sharp will look to juniors Erin Grant, Chesley Dabbs and LaToya Davis for leadership. Grant returns after a remarkable sophomore season as she garnered second team All-Big 12 accolades and led the team in assists with 215. Grant is on pace to set the school record for assists this year. She currently stands fourth with 443 career assists. Also returning is Tech's top scorer from last season sophomore Alesha Robertson, who averaged 12.4 points a game. Robertson was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2004. Fellow sophomore Brooke Baughman will continue to contribute in the backcourt. Putting on a Texas Tech uniform for the first time will be sophomore Patrice Edwards and freshmen Darrice Griffin, Erin Myrick and Judith Smith.
"The fans can expect to see a different level of maturity in those who played most of the minutes last year," said Sharp. "I have seen a real commitment, good work ethic and good mentality in our individual workouts."
What Sharp has seen during the preseason workouts is what Lady Raider fans are anxiously awaiting. The start of the season is just around the corner and the victory bells are about to be ringing again.
