Texas Tech Athletics
Pittsburgh
Lady Raiders Comeback to Beat Pitt
December 19, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2010
Pittsburgh Postgame Interviews
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - After a 12-day hiatus from games, the Texas Tech women's basketball team got off to a sluggish start but battled back in the second half to beat Pittsburgh by 13 points, 78-65, in the first game of the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic at the Events Center at South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa on Sunday afternoon.
Pitt (5-5) scored the opening basket of the game while Tech (10-1) responded with a three-pointer by Casey Morris and a free throw by Teena Wickett to take an early 4-2 lead at 18:21. It was the Lady Raiders' only lead of the half.
The first half was close with the Panthers leading by no more than six points on two occasions late in the first period.
The Lady Raiders got within one point six times, the last coming with 3:30 to go in the half as Jordan Barncastle had a tip-in on a second-chance opportunity to put the score 31-30.
With 22 seconds to go, Marissa Ashton was fouled on a shot and hit one of two free throws to give Pitt a 38-35 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Tech continued to stay close to the Panthers getting within one-point, 42-41, as Wickett made a layup at the 16:27 mark, and then Pitt went on a 6-0 run to go up by seven points with 14:23 to go in the contest. The Lady Raiders responded with their own run as they scored the next eight points to take a 49-48 lead, their first since the early minutes of the game.
Pitt took back the lead at 52-51 with 10 minutes remaining as Leeeza Burdgess tipped the ball in for the Panthers.
The last lead change of the game came on a jumper by Kierra Mallard with 8:48 left on the clock.
Up by five, Chynna Brown nailed a three-pointer to give Tech a 60-55 advantage with six minutes to play. Brown's three was the spark the Lady Raiders needed as they outscored Pitt 18-10 to close the game.
Committing 10 turnovers in the first half, Tech limited themselves to just five in the second half, which only allowed the Panthers to score four points off of turnovers.
Tech's biggest lead was 15 points with 32 seconds left as Monique Smalls made one of two free throws.
Mallard led Tech with 20 points while Morris and Wickett had 18 and 11 points, respectively. Mallard also finished with team highs of eight rebounds and two blocks. Morris and Wickett both collected four assists, while Wickett tallied three steals as well.
The Lady Raiders shot 46.2 percent from the field (30-65) to the Panthers' 40.4 percent (23-57). Tech also outrebounded Pitt 41-30.
Next up for Tech is California on Mon., Dec. 20, at 4:15 p.m. CST, in the final game of the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.
