Lady Raiders roll past Midwestern State

Tuesday, November 1

Lubbock, Texas

7 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

Midwestern State

Lady Raiders roll past Midwestern State

November 01, 2022 | Women's Basketball

Tech used 58 second-half points to down the Mustangs in its lone exhibition

By: Andrew Stern

LUBBOCK, Texas – In the home debuts of five different players, the Texas Tech Lady Raiders used a massive second half to down Midwestern State, 84-50 on Tuesday night at United Supermarkets Arena.

Texas Tech was led by sophomore Rhyle McKinney who led all scorers with 19 points. McKinney was one of four Lady Raiders to reach double figures.

Highly touted freshman and Gruver product Bailey Maupin added 17 points of the bench in her much anticipated Lady Raider debut.

The difference in the contest was third quarter 15-0 run that gave the Lady Raiders a 23-point advantage midway through the period. The Tech lead ballooned to as high as 34, the game's final margin.

Other game highlights included freshman Jasmine Shavers scoring 13 points in her first action in a Lady Raider uniform while Saga Ukkonen added another 10.

In total, all five Lady Raider starters posted a plus-minus of at least 25.

Midwestern State managed just 28 second half points and were led by guard Natalie Stice. Stice finished the game with 14 points on just 5-of-15 shooting.

COACH SPEAK (HC KRISTA GERLICH):

Opening Statement

"We wanted to play an exhibition game for several reasons, I think you saw in the first half many of the reasons why. We were trying to shake off some nerves that some of our new kids have and needed to get into the flow of things. We have a lot of kids playing out of position because of injuries and illnesses, and that's okay. Our girls have to learn how to overcome adversity. But overall, I didn't think that we panicked in the first half. We made some really good adjustments in the second half, and we settled down. I think that you saw that we have the ability to score at a high level and defend. Our girls just have to continue to buy into what we're trying to do defensively, and play together offensively. We are going to be a team that has to execute together. Our assists have to go way up and our turnovers have to go way down. We can't have that many turnovers ever against anybody, period. We have certainly got to value the basketball better. I think some of that was attributed to nerves, we got some young kids on the floor today at times, but I do think that our returners played well late in the second half. They got us going offensively and I think that helped a lot."

On the 15-0 run in the opening of third quarter

"We talked to them at halftime, that the first three minutes were going to be crucial. Just like the first three minutes in the game. I liked the way we started both the first and third quarters. We just didn't have a lot of our power there to maintain it. Like I said, the first three minutes in the second half are really important for us to be successful and I felt that our kids did a great job of coming out and kind of lengthening that lead for us, which gave us a little bit of breathing room."

Rhyle McKinney

On improvements to make for the next game:
"I would definitely say I want to be a bigger leader for the new kids. I know playing your first game you have a lot of nerves. I've been in that position, and those nerves can cause a lot of turnovers. I had one myself tonight, which is very frustrating. I just need to help out my teammates and just let everyone feel comfortable. I need my teammates to know that we can work together and it's going to be okay no matter what"

On her performance tonight and seeking her shot:
"I felt like tonight I had to be super aggressive and get to the free throw line because that sometimes settles me in a game. I definitely learned that from last year. I want to be in more of attack-mode this year, and that is just something I think I can bring to this team."

Saga Ukkonen

Q: On improvements to make for the next game
"I hope to bring calmness on the court. I am a returner and I have played for coach for one year, so I am familiar with this stuff that we need to do. I know what she wants from us. I hope I can bring that confidence and knowledge, especially offensively. And then of course I need to help take care of the ball. I don't want to turn it over. Like coach said we can't turn the ball over."

Q: On Bailey Maupin's first collegiate performance
"I am super proud of Bailey; I know she was very excited. I even asked her before the game how it feels now that she gets to play her first game at Tech. I am super proud of her, she is a really good player. She is very aggressive and she's a great shooter, she can get to rim. I am super proud of her for doing whatever she does in practice every day and she's going to make a huge impact on this team."

UP NEXT:
Texas Tech opens its 2022-23 season on Monday afternoon when the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders visit United Supermarkets Arena. Tip-off for the season opener is set for 5:30 p.m.