Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Open the Season Friday
November 13, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2014
LUBBOCK, Texas - The wait for basketball finally ends on Friday as the Texas Tech women's basketball team tips off the season at 5:30 p.m. against Jacksonville State at United Supermarkets Arena.
The Lady Raiders opening game will be the first of two contests on Friday. The men's basketball team tips off its season at 8 p.m. against Loyola (Md.).
The arena has a new name and look on the court along with a new look to the Lady Raiders lineup. Eight new players will take the floor alongside five returners on this year's team.
"It's an exciting time," said Tech head coach Candi Whitaker, who enters her second season at the helm. "We've put in a lot of hours and hard work to get this team ready for the season and its always beneficial as a coach to see it pay off on the floor when you get to the first game."
The 2014-15 season also brings about the return of senior forward Kelsi Baker, who missed the 2013-14 season after tearing her Achilles Tendon in her right ankle. Her last start was on March 23, 2013 in Tech's opening round game of the NCAA Tournament vs. South Florida. She returns as Tech's most seasoned veteran with 48 starts and 1,711 minutes played, and as the squad's leading rebounder with 375 total - averaging 3.9 per game.
"I am beyond excited," Baker said. "It feels like it's actually been longer than a year. So I can't wait to get out on the court and see what we can do as a team against someone else."
Jacksonville State comes in with all five returning starters following a 14-18 season under first year head coach Rick Pietri. Senior guard Candace Morton leads the Gamecocks with 16.6 points per game after starting all 32 contests last season.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
G- Minta Spears (31st Start); G-Ivonne CookTaylor (5th Start); G-Rayven Brooks (1st Start); F-Kelsi Baker (49th Start); F-Dayo Olabode (1st Start)
MOVING ON UP
Texas Tech gained eight new faces in its lineup since the end of the 2013-14 season and with it, some more height. The average height of the Lady Raiders a year ago was 5-foot-9 with only three active players six feet or taller. The squad now has an average height of 6-foot-1 with seven players at six feet or taller.
IVONNE'S END OF SEASON STREAK
Texas Tech redshirt sophomore Ivonne CookTaylor strung together an impressive streak of five games to end the 2013-14 season. She started three times, averaging 31.4 minutes with 12 points per game, scoring in double figures in each one. She averaged just 4.3 points in the prior 25 games.
BEST FOR LAST
Texas Tech's .490 field goal percentage against TCU in the opening round of the Big 12 Championship in March was its highest field goal percentage of the season against a Big 12 opponent and most since hitting 51.5 percent vs. Grambling on Nov. 23.
OPENING DAY SUCCESS
Texas Tech has won its home opener in each of the last eight seasons, dating back to 2005. Tech last loss in a home opener was on Nov. 13, 2005 - a 76-68 decision to No. 3 LSU in the State Farm Tip-Off Classic.
BAKER RETURNS
Texas Tech senior forward Kelsi Baker makes her return to the court on Friday vs. Jacksonville State after missing last season with a torn Achilles Tendon. Her last start was on March 23, 2013 in Tech's opening round game of the NCAA Tournament vs. South Florida. She returns as Tech's most seasoned veteran with 48 starts and 1,711 minutes played, and as the squad's leading rebounder with 375 total - averaging 3.9 per game.
BATTLE OUT
Texas Tech senior guard Amber Battle will sit out all six games for the month of November as part of her punishment for an on-campus incident over the summer. Battle led Tech in scoring last season with 16.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game en route to being named to the 2014 All-Big 12 Second Team. She will return back to the lineup on Dec. 3 against Abilene Christian.
HARRISON OUT
Senior forward Audrisa Harrison will miss the 2014-15 season after tearing her ACL during summer workouts. Harrison averaged 3.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season in her first year with the Lady Raiders after transferring from Blinn College.
