Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Meet Maine In NCAA First Round
March 15, 2004 | Women's Basketball
March 15, 2004
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2004 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship
Mideast Region - First Round
No. 4 Seed #12/14 Texas Tech Lady Raiders (24-7/10-6 Big 12)
vs.
No. 13 Seed Maine Black Bears (25-6/17-1 America East)
March 20, 2004 * Missoula, Mont. * 8 p.m. CST * ESPN2
Adams Center/Dahlberg Arena (7,321)
Saturday's Game
No. 12/14 Texas Tech is the No. 4 seed in the Mideast Region of the 2004 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship and will take on No. 13 seed Maine on Saturday, March 20 at 8 p.m. CST at the Adams Center/Dahlberg Arena in Missoula, Mont. The winner of the game will face the winner of the No. 5 seed Louisiana Tech/No. 12 seed Montana contest on Monday, March 22 (time to be announced). The game will be televised on ESPN2 with play-by-play by Cara Capuano and Jimmy Dykes as the color analyst. The game can be heard on the All Sports Radio Network as Ryan Hyatt calls the game.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 24-7 overall and finished in a tie for fourth place in the Big 12 with a 10-6 record. On the year, freshman Alesha Robertson leads the team in scoring with a 12.3 average followed by sophomore Erin Grant at 8.1. Senior Casey Jackson is the top rebounder, grabbing 6.3 boards per outing and sophomore LaToya Davis is averaging 5.6 rebounds a game. Davis is shooting 60 percent from the field, while sophomore Jametra Clark is shooting 51.4 percent. Robertson is shooting 40.2 percent from the three-point arc, while senior Natalie Ritchie is shooting 33.3 percent from three-point range. Grant has team highs of 207 assists and 39 steals. Senior Jolee Ayers-Curry is the top shot blocker with 20 blocks as junior Cisti Greenwalt led the team with 57 blocks before suffering a season-ending injury. The Lady Raiders are shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from three-point range and 71.2 percent from the free throw line.
Scouting the Opponent
Maine enters the game with a 25-6 overall record and finished America East play with a 17-1 mark and won the America East Tournament. In the finals of the America East Tournament, the Black Bears defeated Boston University, 68-43. In that game, senior Heather Ernest scored a game-high 15 points, while senior Melissa Heon and junior Missy Traversi each chipped in 12 points. Junior Monica Peterson added 10 points and 11 rebounds. Heon and junior Kim Corbitt both finished with four assists and four steals.
On the year, Ernest paces the Black Bears in scoring with a 16.5 average followed by Heon at 10.9. Ernest is the top rebounder as she is averaging 8.6 boards per contest. Corbitt leads the team in assists with 112 and Ernest has a team-high 55 steals. Ernest is the top shot blocker with 20 blocks. Maine is shooting 41.9 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from three-point range and 76.7 percent from the charity stripe.
Sharon Versyp is in her fourth year at the helm of the Black Bears establishing a career record of 78-40.
Series Record
It is the first meeting between Texas Tech and Maine.
Common Opponents
Texas Tech and Maine had two common opponents this season in Washington and SMU. The Lady Raiders defeated Washington, 74-70, in Seattle, Dec. 19, while the Black Bears lost to the Huskies, 82-70, in Hawai'i Nov. 22. Tech beat SMU, 77-37, in the championship game of the SMU Hoops for the Cure Tournament Nov. 29 in Dallas. Maine lost to SMU, 44-43, Dec. 28 in Orono.
Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament
Texas Tech is making its 17th appearance in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship and its 15th-consecutive bid into the event. The Lady Raiders have advanced to the Sweet 16 10 times, the Elite Eight four times, the Final Four once and won the National Championship in 1993. This is the first time Tech has been on the road for the first and second rounds since the 1996-97 season.
Welcome Back to Missoula
Texas Tech returns to Missoula for the first time since the 1993 West Regional where the Lady Raiders won the regional by defeating Southern California, 87-67, in the regional semifinals March 25 and Colorado, 79-54, in the regional finals March 27. Tech advanced to the Final Four in Atlanta, Ga., and went on to claim the National Championship that year.
Last Time Out
(AP) - Baylor wasn't about to let another close game slip away against Texas Tech.
Sophia Young had 26 points and 13 rebounds to lead the No. 14 Lady Bears to an 80-72 victory over No. 10 Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals Wednesday.
The fifth-seeded Lady Bears lost starting center Steffanie Blackmon with 2:37 remaining when she twisted her left knee on a drive to the basket. Blackmon, who finished with 13 points to reach double-figures for the 28th time this season, was on the floor for several minutes before she was helped to the bench, where she watched her teammates complete the victory while holding an ice bag on her knee.
LaToya Davis led Texas Tech with 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Alesha Robertson added 17 points. Dionne Brown added 11 points, and Jessika Stratton had 10 for Baylor.
Tech was unable to contend with Young, who hit 12-of-19 shots, pulled down five offensive rebounds, had three steals and two blocked shots.
Baylor took control with a 13-4 second-half run capped by consecutive three-point plays from Brown and Young.
Young worked inside for a layup and converted a free throw with 11:00 left to push the Lady Bears' edge to 56-41.
Robertson scored seven points during an 11-2 charge that got Texas Tech to 63-57 with 4:35 left.
But Baylor re-established itself with a 10-6 run for a 73-63 lead and Texas Tech could get no closer than seven.
A Look Ahead
If Texas Tech advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Lady Raiders will then face the winner of the No. 5 seed Louisiana Tech/No. 12 seed Montana game on Monday, March 22. The winner of the second round will advance to the Mideast Regional in Norfolk, Va., March 28 and 30.
Lady Raider Head Coach Marsha Sharp
One of the most respected and well-known coaches in Texas Tech history, Hall of Fame head coach Marsha Sharp is 532-166 in her 22nd year at the helm of the Lady Raiders. She has led the Lady Raiders to 17 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 15 consecutive, and 10 NCAA Sweet 16 and four Elite Eight appearances and the NCAA National Championship in 1993. Sharp led the Lady Raiders to three-straight Big 12 Conference regular-season titles (1998-2000) and two tournament crowns (1998, 1999). While in the SWC, coach Sharp and the Lady Raiders never finished below third, they won or shared the last five championships, and they captured three Post-Season Classic titles. A 1974 graduate of Wayland Baptist University, Sharp was named the National Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994. She also reaped SWC Coach of the Year honors seven times, five consecutively. In May 2003, she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
First to No. 1
Texas Tech became the first Big 12 school to be ranked No. 1 in the country since the inception of the league in 1996-97. The Lady Raiders topped the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches' Poll on Jan. 6. It marks the first time the Lady Raiders have been ranked No. 1 during the regular season and only their second ever as they were first in the final coaches poll after winning the National Championship in 1993.
NCAA Stats
As of games through March 8, Texas Tech ranks sixth in rebound margin at 8.7, ninth in scoring margin at 17.0, ninth in turnovers per game at 13.7, 15th in scoring defense at 56.0, 15th in won-lost percentage at 80.0, 15th in blocked shots per game at 5.3, 19th in field goal percentage defense at 36.2, 24th in personal fouls per game at 15.0, 26th in assists per game at 16.5 and 30th in scoring offense at 73.0, among all NCAA Division I teams. Sophomore Erin Grant ranks 12th in assists per game at 6.6, among all NCAA Division I players.
All-Big 12 Honors
Sophomore Erin Grant was named second team All-Big 12 by the coaches, while freshman Alesha Robertson was selected honorable mention All-Big 12. Seniors Jolee Ayers-Curry and Casey Jackson, along with Grant and fellow sophomore Chesley Dabbs were all named first team Academic All-Big 12.
Greenwalt Fractures Ankle, Out for Season
Junior Cisti Greenwalt fractured her right ankle in the game at Missouri Feb. 17. The ankle was surgically repaired and she will be out the remainder of the season.
Best Start in School History
Texas Tech started the season 15-0, before losing at Iowa State, which was the best start in school history. The previous best start was when the Lady Raiders went 10-0 in 1999-2000 before falling at Iowa State, 62-37, Jan. 2, 2000.
Grant Nominee for Lieberman Award
Sophomore Erin Grant has been named one of the 12 nominees for the Nancy Lieberman Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top point guard. A list of the nation's top 10 point guards will be determined in the coming weeks.
Winning Percentage By Class
The senior class has a record of 98-32 (.754) overall and 44-20 (.688) in Big 12 regular-season play. The junior class, which consists of just one player - Cisti Greenwalt is 73-25 (.745) and 31-17 (.646) in the league. The sophomores post a 53-13 (.803) mark and 23-9 (.719) in the conference. The freshmen are 24-7 (.774) and 10-6 (.625) in Big 12 play this season.
Looking for Another Banner
Since the 1997-98 season, the Lady Raiders have hung at least one Big 12 Conference championship banner and/or an NCAA Sweet 16 or Elite Eight from the rafters each year. During that time, Tech has seen two NCAA Elite Eight banners, three NCAA Sweet 16 banners, three Big 12 regular-season champion banners, two Big 12 Tournament champion banners and a 2003 Marsha Sharp Women's Basketball Hall of Fame banner.
Lady Raiders Win Third Title
Texas Tech won its third tournament title of the season when it captured the Surf 'N Slam San Diego Hoop Classic on Dec. 30. The Lady Raiders also won the Preseason WNIT and the SMU Hoops for the Cure Tournament.
Tech vs. the Top 25
Texas Tech is 8-5 this year against teams ranked in the top 25. The Lady Raiders beat No. 18/18 UC Santa Barbara, No. 15/15 Rutgers, No. 24 Washington, No. 7/7 Stanford, No. 24 Baylor (Jan. 17), No. 17/17 Baylor (Feb. 8), No. 1/2 Texas (Feb. 22) and No. 13/14 Colorado (Feb. 28). Tech's five losses were at No. 3/4 Texas (Feb. 1), vs. No. 24 Oklahoma (Feb. 10), at No. 23/23 Oklahoma (Feb. 25), at No. 8/8 Kansas State (Mar. 3) and vs. No. 14/15 Baylor (Mar. 10).
Another 20-Win Season
Texas Tech is 24-7, marking its 15th-straight 20-win season and Marsha Sharp's 19th in her 22 years as head coach. It is also the 22nd 20-win season overall for the Lady Raiders.
Largest Margin of Victory in Almost 18 Years
Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State (1/10), 106-43, a margin of 63 points, which was the largest margin of victory of the season and its biggest since beating Hawaii Pacific, 114-48, Dec. 7, 1985.
One Point Losses
Texas Tech's 64-63 loss at Iowa State and 88-87 (2OT) loss at Oklahoma State were just the third and fourth times Tech has lost by just one point in the Marsha Sharp era. The last time the Lady Raiders lost by one point was in a 66-65 defeat to Texas Jan. 22, 1994. The only other one-point loss was a 66-65 loss to New Orleans in the National Women's Invitational March 24, 1982, Sharp's first year as head coach.
Knockin' Off No. 1
Texas Tech defeated No. 1 Texas marking the first time Tech has defeated a No. 1 team since beating Vanderbilt, 60-46, in the semifinals of the NCAA Championship Tournament April 3, 1993 as the Lady Raiders went on to win the National Championship. It is the only time Tech has beaten a No. 1 team in the regular season.
Another Sellout
Texas Tech had its second-straight sellout crowd of 15,050 against Colorado. The Lady Raiders sold out the week before against Texas. The Colorado sellout marked the third of the season and the sixth since the United Spirit Arena opened in Nov. 1999. Tech averaged 12,577 fans a game this season, which is the second largest in school history. The 1999-00 season is tops with a 12,741 attendance average.
Davis Scores Career High, Gets Another Double-Double
Sophomore LaToya Davis scored a career-high 24 points and tied her season-high 11 rebounds against Baylor in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament. It marked the third double-double for her this season.
More Points, More Minutes
Senior Jolee Ayers-Curry scored a season-high 16 points against Colorado. Her previous season high was 14 the week before against Texas. She also played a season-high 36 minutes against the Buffaloes. Fellow senior Casey Jackson also recorded a season high of 37 minutes of play.
First Career Double-Double for Dabbs
Sophomore Chesley Dabbs recorded her first career double-double against the Buffaloes as she had 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
Doing Dishes
Senior Natalie Ritchie tied her career high of five assists against Colorado. Ritchie has dished out five assists three times in her career.
More Rebounds for Jackson
Senior Casey Jackson had her fourth game of the season with double digit rebounds as she grabbed 11 against Colorado. Her career high is 19, which she had against Rutgers earlier this season.
Season Tops for Ayers-Curry and Davis
Senior Jolee Ayers-Curry dished out a season-high three assists at Oklahoma, while sophomore LaToya Davis recorded a season-high three blocks against the Sooners.
Grant Matches Season High Rebounds
Sophomore Erin Grant tied her season-high seven rebounds at Missouri and against Texas (2/22). She has had seven rebounds eight times this season.
Grant to Fifth
Sophomore Erin Grant moved to fifth on Tech's career list for assists with 435. Standing in fourth is Julie Lake (1995-99) with 441.
Super Sophomores
The sophomore trio of Chesley Dabbs, LaToya Davis and Erin Grant combined for 34 of Tech's 73 points at Missouri and 35 of Tech's 62 points against Texas (2/22).
Greenwalt Breaks Block Record
Junior Cisti Greenwalt became Texas Tech's career record holder in blocks with 195. She passed Crystal Boles (1994-98) who finished her career with 191.
Dabbs Matches Career High in Points
Sophomore Chesley Dabbs tied her career-high 18 points and had a career-high three blocks at Texas A&M. Dabbs also scored 18 points earlier this season against Pacific.
Two Double-Doubles Against Aggies
Junior Cisti Greenwalt and sophomore LaToya Davis both recorded double-doubles at Texas A&M. Greenwalt had her fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. Davis finished with 13 points and a season-high 11 boards for her second double-double of the year.
50 Percent or Better
Texas Tech shot 52.2 percent from the field at Texas A&M and 50 percent at Missouri, marking the eighth and ninth times this season the Lady Raiders have shot 50 percent or better this year.
Low Percent from Field
Texas Tech shot a season-low 26.2 percent from the field in the victory over Baylor (1/17). Tech was 17-of-65.
Team Sets Three-Point Mark
The Lady Raiders sank 14 three-pointers against OSU, which was a school record. Their previous record was 12 at Iowa State Jan. 19, 2002. Tech was 14-of-18 from three-point range for 77.8 percent.
Grant Dishes Out, Ties Career High
Sophomore Erin Grant tied her career-high 14 assists against the Cowgirls (1/10).
100 Points, Again
Texas Tech scored 106 points in its victory over Oklahoma State Jan. 10. It marked the second time this season Tech had scored at least 100 points. The Lady Raiders scored 100 against Pacific Dec. 8. The 2003-04 season is the first time Tech has scored 100-plus points more than once in the same season since the 1994-95 season. It is also the 10th season Tech has accomplishment that feat. During the 1992-93 season, Tech scored 100 or more points on six occasions, which is the most of any Lady Raider season.
Tech Ties Fewest Points Allowed
Texas Tech held Wyoming to 26 points Dec. 6, which tied the school record for fewest points scored by an opponent. McMurry had scored 26 points on Feb. 24, 1978.
Tech Holds SMU to Record-Low Shooting Percentage
Texas Tech held SMU to just 16.9 percent from the field, which set a school record for lowest shooting percentage by an opponent. The Mustangs hit just 11 of 65 shot attempts in the game. The previous school record was 17.6 percent (12-of-68) by Southwest Texas State on Jan. 1, 1993.
Johnson, Flowers to Redshirt
Freshman Enrica Johnson had meniscus repair done to her right knee on Dec. 17 and will redshirt this season. She joins freshman Tawanna Flowers who is redshirting after suffering a navicular fracture in her right foot during her senior season and is currently rehabbing the injury.
On the Tube
The Lady Raiders made six national or regional television appearances in regular-season play this season. Texas Tech will appear on ESPN2 once and Fox Sports Net four times. On Fox Sports Net, Tech played Stanford (Dec. 21), Baylor (Jan. 17), at Texas (Feb. 1) and at Baylor (Feb. 8). Tech played at Washington (Dec. 19) on Fox Sports Northwest/Southwest. On Feb. 22, the Lady Raiders defeated No. 1/2 Texas on ESPN2. Tech also had 11 games broadcast on the local Red Raider Sports Network.
Grant Among the Best at Her Position
Sophomore Erin Grant was named one of the top five point guards in the country by ESPN.com. Along with Grant, Jamie Carey (Texas), Temeka Johnson (LSU), Cappie Pondexter (Rutgers) and Erika Valek (Purdue) made up the top five selections.
Lady Raiders in the Polls
Since January 20, 1992, the Lady Raiders have been ranked in the Top 25 in the Associated Press and/or the USA Today poll a total of 231 weeks. That includes the March 15 polls in which Tech is ranked 12th in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches poll and 14th in the Associated Press top 25 poll (the final poll).
Follow the Lady Raiders
All Lady Raider basketball games can be heard live on the All Sports Radio Network on KFYO-AM 790 and KKCL-FM 98.1 locally. Listen to play-by-play by Ryan Hyatt as he takes the court with the Lady Raiders. The following radio stations will air the Lady Raider basketball games this season:
Amarillo - KPUR-AM (1440)
Haskell - KVRP-FM (97.1)
Hereford - KPAN-AM/FM (860/106.3)
Lamesa - KPET-AM (690)
Lubbock - KFYO-AM/KKCL-FM (790/98.1)
Midland - KMMD/KRIL-AM (1510/1410)
Plainview - KVOP-AM (1090)
Lady Basketball with Marsha Sharp
Lady Raider Basketball with Marsha Sharp is televised every Sunday. The show airs on Fox 34 at 9:30 p.m. The show also airs on UPN Lubbock at 10:30 p.m.
