Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Ready For Big 12 Tournament Quarterfinals
March 08, 2004 | Women's Basketball
March 8, 2004
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Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
No. 4 Seed #9/9 Texas Tech Lady Raiders (24-6/10-6 Big 12)
vs.
No. 5 Seed #14/18 Baylor Lady Bears (22-7/10-6 Big 12)
OR
No. 12 Seed Kansas Jayhawks (9-18/2-14 Big 12)
March 10, 2004 * Dallas, Texas * 2:30 p.m.
Television - Fox Sports Net
Reunion Arena (16,500)
Wednesday's Game
No. 9/9 Texas Tech is the fourth seed in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Tournament and will take on the winner of the No. 5 seed 14th/18th-ranked Baylor and No. 12 seed Kansas game in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 10 at 2:30 p.m. at Reunion Arena. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net with play-by-play by Bill Land and Brenda VanLengen as the color analyst. The game can be heard on the All Sports Radio Network as Ryan Hyatt and Crystal Boles call the game.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 24-6 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 12.1 average followed by sophomore Erin Grant at 8.1. Senior Casey Jackson is the top rebounder, grabbing 6.5 boards per outing and sophomore LaToya Davis is averaging 5.4 rebounds a game. Davis is shooting 59.1 percent from the field, while sophomore Jametra Clark is shooting 51.4 percent. Robertson is shooting 39.8 percent from the three-point arc, while senior Natalie Ritchie is shooting 32.7 percent from three-point range. Grant has team highs of 198 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, 35.3 percent from three-point range and 71.6 percent from the free throw line.
Scouting the Opponent
Baylor
Baylor enters the tournament with a 22-7 overall record and tied Tech for fourth in the Big 12 with a 10-6 record. The Lady Bears will face Kansas in the first round on Tuesday, March 9 at 2:30 p.m.
On the year, junior Steffanie Blackmon and sophomore Sophia Young each are averaging 15.6 points a game. Young is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.4 boards per contest. Junior Chelsea Whitaker leads the team in assists with 121, while Young has a team-high 73 steals. Blackmon is the top shot blocker with 30 blocks. Baylor is shooting 46.4 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from three-point range and 73.8 percent from the charity stripe.
Kim Mulkey-Robertson is in her fourth year at the helm of the Lady Bears establishing a career record of 94-33.
Kansas
Kansas comes into the tournament with a record of 9-18 and finished the Big 12 tied for 11th with a 2-14 mark. The Jayhawks take on Baylor in the first round of the tournament on Tuesday, March 9 at 2:30 p.m.
On the year, sophomore Crystal Kemp paces the Jayhawks in scoring with a 13.4 average followed by junior Aquanita Burras at 10.0. Freshman Lauren Ervin is the top rebounder as she is averaging 6.8 boards per contest. Sophomore Erica Hallman leads the team in assists with 87, while Burras has a team-high 51 steals. Sophomore Tamara Ransburg is the top shot blocker with 50 blocks. Kansas is shooting 41.5 percent from the field, 26.7 percent from the three-point arc and 69.2 percent from the free throw line.
Lynette Woodard has been the interim head coach for the last 10 games this season and has a record of 1-9.
Series Record
Baylor
Texas Tech is 45-11 against Baylor (including a forfeit in 1989). Tech won both meetings earlier this year: 64-63, in Lubbock Jan. 17 and 62-59, in Waco Feb. 8. Baylor's last victory was an 86-72 triumph in overtime Feb. 15, 2003 in Waco. The Lady Raiders are 0-1 against Baylor in the conference tournament. The Lady Bears beat Tech, 75-60, in the quarterfinals March 6, 2002 in Kansas City, Mo.
Kansas
Texas Tech holds a 7-3 advantage over Kansas after beating the Jayhawks, 67-44, this year in Lubbock Feb. 4. Tech has won the last five meetings. The last time Kansas won was Jan. 23, 1999 in a 55-45 triumph in Lawrence. The Lady Raiders are 1-0 against the Jayhawks in the conference tournament. Tech beat Kansas, 71-53, in the championship game on March 7, 1998 in Kansas City, Mo. It was Tech's first Big 12 Conference Tournament championship.
This Year vs. Baylor
Jan. 17, 2004 - (AP) Alesha Robertson made three free throws in the final 7.6 seconds and finished with 18 points to lead No. 2 Texas Tech past No. 24 Baylor 64-63.
Trailing by four points with 1:53 remaining, Tech got two free throws from Erin Grant and a spinning layup by LaToya Davis to tie the score at 61 with 43.9 seconds left.
Baylor took the lead again when Dionne Brown hit a 15-footer with 27.5 seconds left.
After Robertson made two free throws to tie it at 63-all, Baylor's Jessika Stratton turned the ball over when she was called for stepping backward onto the baseline. A television replay of the call showed that Stratton's heel did not step onto the line.
Robertson then missed a layup attempt but was fouled with 2.2 seconds left and hit her third free throw.
Tech had four players in double figures despite shooting just 26 percent (17-for-65). Davis scored 12 points, Grant added 11 and Chesley Dabbs got 10.
Young scored 24 points and Ebony Jackson added 13 for the Lady Bears.
Tech led 28-24 at halftime. The Lady Raiders used a 17-8 run to take a 28-20 lead with 1:22 remaining in the half. Robertson and Davis accounted for 11 points in Tech's run.
Feb. 8, 2004 - (AP) Texas Tech won another close game against Baylor, this time without the help of a disputed call.
Chesley Dabbs scored the go-ahead basket on a putback with 32 seconds left, and LaToya Davis then hit two free throws after stealing a pass to lift the No. 9 Lady Raiders to a 62-59.
Dabbs took Erin Grant's missed jumper and made the winning shot in a game that featured 14 lead changes.
No. 17 Baylor which only had one basket in the last four minutes, then turned the ball over when Davis stole Emily Niemann's pass.
Davis, a 49 percent free-throw shooter, iced the victory for the Lady Raiders when she made two foul shots with 10 seconds left. Niemann's 3-point shot bounced off the rim as the game ended.
In Tech's 64-63 win over Baylor last month in Lubbock, Alesha Robertson made three free throws in the final 7.6 seconds, hitting the game-winner after a disputed call.
Robertson tied that game with two free throws before Jessika Stratton had a turnover when she was called for stepping on the baseline - although a television replay showed her heel never touched it. Robertson made the game-winning free throw with 2.2 seconds left.
Baylor took a 59-58 lead with just under a minute left when Stratton stole the ball from Robertson. Stratton batted it ahead to Chelsea Whitaker for a breakaway layup.
Robertson led the Lady Raiders with 25 points, including five 3-pointers.
Sophia Young paced the Lady Bears with 19 points. Steffanie Blackmon scored 17.
Davis scored 11 of her 13 points after halftime, when Baylor held a 33-31 lead.
Tech opened the second half with an 18-4 run, capped by Davis' three-point play that gave the Lady Raiders a 49-37 lead.
Baylor responded with an 18-6 run and the game was tied at 55 after Sophia Young's layup with 5 1/2 minutes left.
This Year vs. Kansas
Feb. 4, 2004 - (AP) From the outset, Texas Tech's Erin Grant knew she could have a big night against Kansas.
The Jayhawks left her open often on the outside as they tried to defend the basket, allowing her to score a career-high 27 points to lead ninth-ranked Tech past Kansas 67-44.
Against Kansas, Grant had two 3-pointers. That doubled her output in nine previous tries.
She finished 10 of 13 from the field, and had six assists, five steals and no turnovers in 30 minutes.
She also hit all five of her free throws. Grant hasn't missed from the line in the last two games. She hit all four of her free throws in the Texas loss.
Alesha Robertson and LaToya Davis added 12 points each for the Lady Raiders. Grant's previous career high of 18 points came in a loss to Texas last year in the conference tournament.
Tamara Ransburg had 13 points and Aquanita Burras 10 to lead Kansas .
Unforced turnovers hurt the Jayhawks. They finished with 25 overall and Tech converted 31 points off of them.
The Lady Raiders built their biggest lead of 62-36 with 6:30 remaining on a layup by Grant.
Tech led 34-17 at halftime. The Lady Raiders used a 13-3 run to go up 24-11. Kansas was held to two baskets in the last 14:19 of the half.
Last Time Out
(AP) - Nicole Ohlde put up a string of memorable numbers in her final regular-season game, leading eighth-ranked Kansas State to an 85-73 victory over No. 9 Texas Tech on Wednesday night for a share of the Big 12 championship.
Alesha Robertson led Texas Tech with 16 points.
Kansas State led 33-29 at halftime then outscored the Lady Raiders 18-5 in the first five minutes of the second half. The Wildcats were 6-for-6 from the field - 3-for-3 from 3-point range - and 3-for-3 from the line over that span.
Laurie Koehn hit two 3-pointers - converting one into a 4-point play when she was fouled by Casey Jackson. Koehn closed it out with another 3-pointer, giving Kansas State a 51-34 lead with 15 minutes left.
The Wildcats were hot from the field early in the first half as well, hitting seven of their first 10 shots and taking a 17-7 lead behind three 3s from Amy Dutmer. They were 13-for-25 from 3-point range for the game, more than offsetting Texas Tech's free-throw advantage.
Texas Tech was 21-for-27 from the line, compared to 12-for-14 for Kansas State, but shot just 4-for-11 from long range.
Dutmer scored all 15 of her points on 3s, Koehn hit three 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. Megan Mahoney added three 3s and nine points to go with her 10 rebounds.
That opened the inside for Ohlde and Wecker, who had nine of her points in the final 10 minutes.
Wecker's 3-point play with 8:18 left gave Kansas State its first 20-point lead, 72-52. Her basket with 7:21 to go made it 76-54, the Wildcats' biggest lead.
Erin Grant added 12 points, Jackson had 11 and Chesley Dabbs and Jametra Clark finished with 10 apiece for Texas Tech.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech will compete in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Tournament March 9-13 at Reunion Arena. On Wednesday, March 10 Tech will face the winner of the No. 5 Baylor/No. 12 Kansas game at 2:30 p.m. If the Lady Raiders are victorious, they will advance to the semifinals on Thursday, March 11 at 6 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, March 13 at 6 p.m. The winner of the conference tournament receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game will be televised on Fox Sports Net.
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 532-165 in her 22nd year at the helm of the Lady Raiders. She has led the Lady Raiders to 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 14 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 1, Texas Tech ranks seventh in rebound margin at 8.8, eighth in scoring margin at 18.0, eighth in turnovers per game at 13.8, 11th in scoring defense at 55.0, 13th in won-lost percentage at 82.8, 14th in field goal percentage defense at 35.7, 15th in blocked shots per game at 5.3, 25th in assists per game at 16.7 and 26th in personal fouls per game at 15.0, among all NCAA Division I teams. Sophomore Erin Grant ranks 11th in assists per game at 6.7, 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 98-31 (.760) overall and 44-20 (.688) in Big 12 regular-season play. The junior class, which consists of just one player - Cisti Greenwalt is 73-24 (.753) and 31-17 (.646) in the league. The sophomores post a 53-12 (.815) mark and 23-9 (.719) in the conference. The freshmen are 24-6 (.800) 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 8-4 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 four losses were at No. 3/4 Texas (Feb. 1), vs. No. 24 Oklahoma (Feb. 10), at No. 23/23 Oklahoma (Feb. 25) and at No. 8/8 Kansas State (Mar. 3).
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.
Another 20-Win Season
Texas Tech is 24-6, 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.
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.
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.
Davis Ties Career High
Sophomore LaToya Davis tied her career-high 15 points against Texas (2/22). Davis also had 15 points last year against Baylor.
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 426. 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 229 weeks. That includes the March 1 poll in which Tech is ranked ninth in the Associated Press top 25 poll and ninth in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches 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.
