Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Host No. 9 Sooners In Regular Season Finale
February 27, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 27, 2006
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March 1, 2006 • United Spirit Arena (15,050) • Lubbock, Texas
7 p.m. • TTTN
The Game
Texas Tech (14-12/9-6) welcomes No. 9/9 Oklahoma (25-4/15-0) on Wed., March 1, at 7 p.m. It is the last regular-season game for the Lady Raiders, marking the final game at the United Spirit Arena for seniors Erin Grant and LaToya Davis and head coach Marsha Sharp.
On the Air
The game is being televised on the Texas Tech Television Network, locally in Lubbock on UPN, with play-by-play by Drew Dougherty and Crystal Boles as color analyst. The game also will be aired on the Sooner Sports Network. The game can be heard on the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network as Ryan Hyatt (play-by-play) and Stephanie Gerber (color analyst) call the game.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 14-12 on the year and 9-6 in the Big 12 after winning at Texas, 58-46, last Sunday. On the year, senior LaToya Davis leads the team in scoring at 18.9 points per game followed by junior Alesha Robertson at 12.6 and senior Erin Grant at 12.2. Davis is also the top rebounder, grabbing 10.8 boards per outing, while Robertson is averaging 6.8 rebounds. Davis is shooting a team-high 60.1 percent from the fi eld and Grant is shooting 40.9 percent from behind the three-point arc and 78.5 percent from the free throw line. Grant has team highs of 163 assists and 27 steals. Sophomore Erin Myrick is the top shot blocker with 24 blocks. The Lady Raiders are shooting 41.9 percent from the field, 33.4 percent from three-point range and 65.1 percent from the charity stripe.
Scouting the Opponent
No. 9/9 Oklahoma enters the game with a 25-4 record and is 15-0 in the Big 12, capturing the Big 12 regular-season title. The Sooners are on a 13-game win streak as their last lost came at Ohio State Jan. 9. In its last game, OU defeated Nebraska, 73-45, last Sunday in Norman. In that game, junior Erin Higgins led the Sooners with 17 points. Freshman Courtney Paris fi nished with 15 points, 13 rebounds and fi ve blocks. Junior Britney Brown dished out four assists.
On the year, Paris paces the Sooners in scoring at 21.0 points per game followed by junior Leah Rush at 10.3. Paris is the top rebounder as she is averaging 14.9 boards per contest. Brown leads the team in assists with 110, while junior Kendra Moore has a team-high 36 steals. Paris is the top shot blocker with 90 blocks. OU is shooting 47 percent from the fi eld, 34.4 percent from three-point range and 65 percent from the free throw line.
Sherri Coale is in her 10th year at the helm of the Sooners, establishing a career record of 198-112.
Series Record
Texas Tech holds a 21-11 advantage over Oklahoma, including a 17-10 record in the Marsha Sharp era. The Sooners won the fi rst meeting this year, 63-57, Jan. 18 in Norman. The Lady Raiders won both games in 2005 - 70-64, Jan. 5, in Lubbock and 83-70, Feb. 23, in Norman. The Sooners were victorious both times in 2004, while the Lady Raiders won both contests in 2003. Tech is 12-3 against OU in Lubbock.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech will compete in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship at Reunion Arena in Dallas March 7-11.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Feb. 20, Texas Tech ranks 28th in turnovers per game at 14.5, among all NCAA Division I teams. Senior LaToya Davis ranks 10th in rebounds per game at 11.0, 12th in fi eld goal percentage at 59.1 and 21st in points per game at 19.1, and senior Erin Grant ranks 10th in assists per game at 6.3, among all NCAA Division I players.
Senior CLASS Finalists
Seniors LaToya Davis and Erin Grant have been named two of the 30 fi nalists for the 2006 Senior CLASS Award, which is presented annually to the nation's senior player of the year. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched during the 2001-02 season in response to the trend of college basketball players leaving college early to turn professional. A national media committee will select 10 finalists in February.
Grant Named First Team Academic All-District VI
Senior Erin Grant was named to the CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI fi rst team. Grant was one of six student-athletes to receive this honor for District VI. Grant now advances to the national ballot, which consists of all first team selections from the eight districts, a total of 42 student-athletes this year. In order to be nominated for Academic All-District and All-America honors, a player must be a starter or important reserve, must have a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average and must have completed at least one full academic year at her institution.
Sharp's 118 the Best in the Big 12
Head coach Marsha Sharp's 118 Big 12 wins is fi rst among all Big 12 coaches. Sharp enter's the game with a 571-187 career record and is 118-41 in Big 12 games.
Seeing Double
For the second time this season, all fi ve starters scored in double fi gures for Tech in the win over Texas. Senior LaToya Davis led the way with 23 points followed by junior Alesha Robertson with 21, junior Brooke Baughman with 16, sophomore Erin Myrick with 12 and senior Erin Grant with 10. The Lady Raiders also had all fi ve starters (Davis, Robertson, Myrick, Henderson, Grant) score in double fi gures against Oral Roberts on Dec. 15.
Baughman Has Big Night
Junior Brooke Baughman had a big night against the Longhorns as she poured in a career-high 16 points and hit a career-high four three-pointers in the win.
Twelfth Double-Double for Davis
Senior LaToya Davis had her 12th double-double of the year as she fi nished with 23 points and 11 rebounds against Texas.
Second Double-Double for Grant
Senior Erin Grant had her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds versus Texas. It was the fourth time this year she has had 10 or more assists and the 21st of her career. The 11 assists tied her season high.
Robertson Up the Charts
Junior Alesha Robertson ranks sixth in career three-point fi eld goals made (140) and stands seventh in career three-point fi eld goal attempts (379).
