Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Set To Take On Idaho
December 08, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 8, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas -- The Texas Tech Lady Raiders begin a stretch of five games in 11 days by facing off with Idaho on Wednesday night at United Supermarkets Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT.The matchup between the Lady Raiders (5-1) and Vandals (7-1) will be carried on the Texas Tech Sports Network on 97.3 FM, and 950 AM in Lubbock with Ryan Hyatt and Chuck Heinz on the call. The radio broadcast also will be available online at www.TexasTech.com and the TuneIn Radio app. The game will also be streamed live on TexasTech.tv.
Texas Tech is coming off a close 71-65 win over Abilene Christian last Wednesday. From here, the Lady Raiders travel west to face Santa Clara (Dec. 12) before returning home to take on Incarnate Word (Dec. 14).
"Idaho is very good," Texas Tech head coach Candi Whitaker said. "They can score, they pass it well and they are very efficient on offense. They have a high collective basketball IQ. They're going to punish you if you make a mistake defensively."
Idaho enters this game at 7-1, having already beaten a Big 12 foe. The Vandals crushed Iowa State 97-62, on Nov. 28. Idaho ranks third nationally in three pointers made per game (11.1), and is currently receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches polls.
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the women's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/LadyRaiderWBB and @LadyRaiderWBB on Twitter.
| Keep Up With The Lady Raiders | |
|---|---|
| Opponent | Idaho |
| Tipoff | Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m. |
| Radio | 97.3 FM or 950 AM |
| Live stream ($) | Texas Tech TV |
| Live stats | Stat Broadcast |
| Twitter Updates | @LadyRaiderWBB |
TOP GAMEDAY STORYLINES
- Texas Tech is looking to improve to 5-0 at home in 2015-16.
- Texas Tech ranks second in the Big 12 in scoring, having only scored less than 70 points once this season.
- This will be the second matchup between Texas Tech and Idaho. Tech won the only previous meeting, 90-55, on Nov. 14, 2008.
- Idaho enters this game at 7-1, having already beaten a Big 12 foe. The Vandals crushed Iowa State 97-62, on Nov. 28.
- This game marks the first of five games in the next 11 days to close out the non-conference schedule.
Texas Tech Signs Whitaker To Contract Extension: https://t.co/6rWUDv0kNh #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/YD5L7ePcG6
- Lady Raider WBB (@LadyRaiderWBB) December 8, 2015
VIEWING THE VANDALS
Idaho enters Wednesday's game at 7-1 and receiving votes in both the AP and USA Today Coaches polls after some registering impressive performances. While at the Cancun Challenge, the Vandals crushed Iowa State, 97-65, just two days after suffering a close 74-68 loss to No. 13 Duke. The Vandals rank third in the NCAA in three-pointers made per game, averaging 11.1 per contest.
GIMME SOME MORE
Texas Tech averages 9.7 steals per game, a mark that ranks fifth in the Big 12. Tech also averages 19.5 forced turnovers per contest. Ivonne CookTaylor leads the team in steals per game (2.0)
SECOND CHANCE
Texas Tech is averaging 16.2 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks second in the Big 12 and 40th in the NCAA. Two Lady Raiders (Leashja Grant & Zuri Sanders) are averaging more than three offensive boards per game.
NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP
Rayven Brooks ranks 35th nationally and third in the Big 12 with an impressive 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
CAN'T HOLD US
Texas Tech ranks 23rd nationally in scoring margin, defeating opponents by an average by 21.2 points per game.
THAT'S SO RAYVEN
Texas Tech senior Rayven Brooks is currently second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game. At the South Point Shootout, she averaged 15 points, including a career high-matching 26 points against Washington, on just 12 shots. She was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts. She has top-40 NCAA rankings in assist/turnover ratio (35, 2.7), and three-point percentage (24, 48.4%)
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Even though she has only played six games in a Lady Raider uniform, Leashja Grant has already made a huge impact. She has two double-doubles as a Lady Raider, and ranks fourth in the Big 12 in rebounds per game (9.2). She also ranks sixth in the league in field goal percentage (60.9%).
She followed up her performance against Niagara with 13 points and 12 boards against Southeastern Louisiana. She registered double-digit rebounds for the third-straight game (11) in Tech's win over Idaho State, where she also had seven points.
YOUTH OF THE NATION
Even with the veterans Tech has on the roster, youth will be served for the Lady Raiders as freshmen Japreece Dean and Zuri Sanders figure to play significant roles. Sanders and Dean are combining to average 14 points and 10 rebounds per game this season.
NO AIR
Texas Tech only allowed 1,838 total points in 31 games last season, which ranked second in the Big 12. That translates to 59.3 points allowed per game, which ranked fourth in the conference. That trend has carried over to the 2015-16 season as Tech has allowed only 58.3 points per game, which ranks sixth in the Big 12. Tech also ranks 21st in the country in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 33.3% from the field.
NO QUARTER
Of the new rules NCAA women's basketball is transitioning to for starting with this season, the most noticeable is that the game format has moved from two halves, to four quarters, creating more exciting end-of-clock situations, among other changes.
COMING HOME
The Lady Raiders feature eight players on the current roster who began their Texas Tech career as a transfer. Five of those players are newcomers. Two of them, Brielle Blaire (Virginia Tech) and Leashja Grant (TVCC) will be eligible during the 2015-16 season, while the other three, highly touted transfers Recee' Caldwell (UCLA), Larryn Brooks (Indiana) and Jada Terry (Texas A&M) will not be eligible until the 2016-17 season.
UNDER PRESSURE
Texas Tech is shooting 59.7% from the line this season, but in clutch situations, the Lady Raiders have been far better than their average would suggest. In clutch situations (when the scoring margin is under 10 points, with less than three minutes to go), Tech is shooting 11-15 (73.3%), 13% better than the overall team average.
