Texas Tech University Athletics
Gray, Carr Earn Preseason All-Big 12 Nods
October 21, 2020 | Women's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech Lady Raider basketball players Vivian Gray and Chrislyn Carr are once again projected to be among the top players in the Big 12 in 2020-21. The conference announced on Wednesday that the pair of Lady Raiders both earned preseason league honors, with Gray named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team and Carr earning a spot on the honorable mention list.
Â
Gray earned her second-straight spot on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team—one of 10 players in the league to earn a selection. The Lady Raider newcomer was a unanimous All-Big 12 pick last spring, following a stellar season at Oklahoma State in which she finished second in the conference in scoring (19.3 ppg). Among Big 12 players, she finished her junior season ranking second in minutes played (37.6 mpg), third in free-throw percentage (84.1 percent) and fifth in assist-turnover ratio (1.7). She was also ninth in the league in assist per game (3.7 apg), 13th in steals (1.6 spg), 15th in field-goal percentage (36.3 percent) and 15th in blocked shots (0.8 bpg).
Â
Gray was named an honorable mention All-America recipient by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association each of the last two seasons, and was named to the Associated Press All-America team as an honorable mention pick following her junior season in 2020. Last year, Gray was also one of 10 finalists for the Cheryl Miller Award, given each year to the best small forward in the nation.
Â
Carr earned her second consecutive preseason honorable mention nod on Wednesday. Last spring, Carr was named to her second-straight honorable mention All-Big 12 team after starting 28 of the Lady Raiders' 29 games a season ago. She finished second on the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game to rank 15th in the Big 12 and averaged 5.0 assists per game to rank second in the conference.
Â
A consistent spark plug for the Texas Tech offense each of the last two years, Carr saw vast improvement in scoring efficiency and assist totals from her freshman year to her sophomore season. The 2019 Big 12 Freshman of the Year averaged 43.2 percent on field goals in 2020—up from 37.1 percent last season—and 37.3 percent from three-point range—up from 30.8 percent as a freshman. Carr had three 20-point games as a sophomore and scored in double figures in 22 of her 29 appearances.
Â
Joining Gray on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team are Queen Egbo (Baylor), DiDi Richards (Baylor), NaLyssa Smith (Baylor) Ashley Joens (Iowa State), Ayoka Lee (Kansas State), Taylor Robertson (Oklahoma), Natasha Mack (Oklahoma State), Lauren Heard (TCU) and Charli Collier (Texas).
Â
Baylor's NaLyssa Smith was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year. DiJonai Carrington was named the Preseason Newcomer of the Year, and Sarah Andrews was tabbed Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Â
Â
Gray earned her second-straight spot on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team—one of 10 players in the league to earn a selection. The Lady Raider newcomer was a unanimous All-Big 12 pick last spring, following a stellar season at Oklahoma State in which she finished second in the conference in scoring (19.3 ppg). Among Big 12 players, she finished her junior season ranking second in minutes played (37.6 mpg), third in free-throw percentage (84.1 percent) and fifth in assist-turnover ratio (1.7). She was also ninth in the league in assist per game (3.7 apg), 13th in steals (1.6 spg), 15th in field-goal percentage (36.3 percent) and 15th in blocked shots (0.8 bpg).
Â
Gray was named an honorable mention All-America recipient by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association each of the last two seasons, and was named to the Associated Press All-America team as an honorable mention pick following her junior season in 2020. Last year, Gray was also one of 10 finalists for the Cheryl Miller Award, given each year to the best small forward in the nation.
Â
Carr earned her second consecutive preseason honorable mention nod on Wednesday. Last spring, Carr was named to her second-straight honorable mention All-Big 12 team after starting 28 of the Lady Raiders' 29 games a season ago. She finished second on the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game to rank 15th in the Big 12 and averaged 5.0 assists per game to rank second in the conference.
Â
A consistent spark plug for the Texas Tech offense each of the last two years, Carr saw vast improvement in scoring efficiency and assist totals from her freshman year to her sophomore season. The 2019 Big 12 Freshman of the Year averaged 43.2 percent on field goals in 2020—up from 37.1 percent last season—and 37.3 percent from three-point range—up from 30.8 percent as a freshman. Carr had three 20-point games as a sophomore and scored in double figures in 22 of her 29 appearances.
Â
Joining Gray on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team are Queen Egbo (Baylor), DiDi Richards (Baylor), NaLyssa Smith (Baylor) Ashley Joens (Iowa State), Ayoka Lee (Kansas State), Taylor Robertson (Oklahoma), Natasha Mack (Oklahoma State), Lauren Heard (TCU) and Charli Collier (Texas).
Â
Baylor's NaLyssa Smith was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year. DiJonai Carrington was named the Preseason Newcomer of the Year, and Sarah Andrews was tabbed Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Â
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball2025-26 Season Recap
Thursday, April 16
Postgame Press Conference: at LSU
Sunday, March 22
Highlights: at LSU
Sunday, March 22
NCAA Tournament Second Round Preview
Saturday, March 21