Five Stories, One Family. This is Lady Raider Basketball

Attend a practice across any level of basketball and you'll likely hear the team break down to 'one-two-three FAMILY'.

But this story is not about what you hear and see at other programs.

It's about what you see, hear and feel in the Lady Raider program.

Attend a practice at either United Supermarkets Arena or the practice gym inside the beautiful 50-million-dollar Dustin R. Womble Basketball Center, and you'll see the definition of family on display.

How? It's simple. Just look around.

On any given day, you'll have upwards of five generations of Lady and Red Raiders. Practice players, managers, coaches and players alike.

Players from the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s as well as their kids.

When you look at the current Lady Raider roster there are members of the program that encompass four different decades/generations.

But all that starts with head coach Krista Gerlich.

An alumna of both Texas Tech and the Lady Raider program, Gerlich is one of four players/coaches in program history to have her name/jersey memorialized inside the rafters of United Supermarkets Arena.

The other three: Carolyn Thompson, Sheryl Swoopes and coach Marsha Sharp.

Not bad company.

A player from 1989-93, Gerlich accomplished just about every feat you could accomplish.

In 1990-91, Gerlich and her Lady Raider squad defeated the University of Texas for the first time in program history. The next season, Gerlich and gang won the first Southwest Conference title in school history.

Gerlich's senior year (1992-93) the program reached the mountain top winning Texas Tech's first National Championship in a team sport in school history.

Fast forward 30 years and the 1992-93 Lady Raiders are the only female team in Texas Tech history to win the National Title. In 2018-19, Tech recorded its second team title when men's track and field won the 2019 Outdoor NCAA National Championship.

And while the 1992-93 team is a large part of Texas Tech's illustrious women's basketball history, it's just a portion of the overall story.

The Lady Raider story.

And that right there is exactly what this story is about.

Fast-forward to January of 2023 and the world is completely different. Gone is the old Lubbock Municipal Coliseum, replaced in 1999 by Texas Tech Basketball's current home, United Supermarkets Arena (originally named United Spirit Arena).

Instead of practicing in a multi-purpose older facility, members of the Lady Raider program now have the aforementioned Dustin R. Womble Basketball Training Facility, the finest basketball-only facility in the country.

But more important than the material objects, building and flashy things are the people.

The people that make Lady Raider Basketball a family.

Attend a practice and yes, you'll see coach Krista Gerlich leading the program. Her program.

But you'll also see countless other members of the Lady Raider family.

Assistant coach Plenette Pierson is in her first season back home in Lubbock. A 2003 graduate of Texas Tech, Pierson starred as a Lady Raider, playing like Gerlich for coach Marsha Sharp.

Following her illustrious four-year Tech career, Pierson was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA.

After a 20-year career as a player (16) and coach (4), Pierson is back home helping lead the program she led to national prominence.

Also on the coaching staff is former Lady Raider player Zuri Sanders. A post player like Pierson, Sanders is in her second year as a graduate manager. After playing from 2016-19, Sanders has stayed in Lubbock to help build back the program to national prominence.

Two other key members of the Lady Raider managers are Bryce Legan and Bryant White.

Legan, who graduated back in December with his degree from Tech, has been promoted from undergraduate student assistant to graduate manager status.

Legan's mother Janice was a player on the 1993 championship team.

Another '93 connection can be found with White, whose mother Terri served as a graduate assistant on the 1993 team.

Following the theme yet?

Thirty years, five stories, one program.

This is Lady Raider Basketball.

But more importantly? This is the Lady Raider Basketball family.

KRISTA [KIRKLAND] GERLICH:
When Krista Kirkland arrived in Lubbock from nearby Spearman, she thought she wanted to a business major.

Fast-forward six months later and Gerlich knew she wanted to be a coach.

Throughout her four-year career, the then Krista Kirkland continued to help the Lady Raiders and coach Marsha Sharp knock down barriers.

Gerlich's freshman season, the Lady Raiders advanced to the Southwest Conference Tournament Championship game and later to the NCAA Tournament.

Tech went 20-11 that season and 11-5 in SWC play. The NCAA Tournament appearance was just the third in program history.

And while the 1989-90 season was important, in 1990-91, the Lady Raiders continued to make history when they defeated Texas in the Southwest Conference Tournament. 63-61.

The win was the first in program history over Texas and sent the Lady Raiders to the SWC championship game in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history.

Skip ahead a calendar year later, the Lady Raiders added a six-foot transfer from nearby South Plains College by the name of Sheryl Swoopes.

It was the addition of Swoopes that combined with the return of players like Cynthia Clinger, Kirkland, Noel Johnson and Stephanie Scott that once again allowed the Lady Raiders to keep achieving program firsts.

The 1991-92 season may not have started like the Lady Raiders wanted to, as Tech fell at Oklahoma State in just the second game of the season.

After four straight wins including a tough 62-59 victory over San Francisco, the Lady Raiders once again lost on the road, this time to California, 62-60.

Sitting at 5-2 with a trip to Louisville to face both the Cardinal and Pittsburgh, as well as the SWC/PAC-10 Challenge, the Lady Raiders knew it was time to flip it into high gear.

Starting with a 91-63 victory over Pitt, Tech closed December with three straight double-figure wins to run their record to 8-2.

On Jan. 8, Southwest Conference play began at SMU. Much like the three previous games, Tech rolled to a 98-76 victory.

With SWC play underway a daunting stretch of back-to-back home games against Texas and Baylor loomed. Fresh off the two-point victory over the Lady Longhorns the year prior, Sharp's squad left zero doubt in the first matchup of '92-93, cruising to a 78-65 victory.

Riding the momentum, Tech clobbered Baylor (90-53), Oral Roberts (88-54), Rice (86-63) and Houston (79-64). The nine straight wins improved the Lady Raiders to 14-2 overall and 5-0 in SWC play.

After falling at Louisiana Tech in a 69-66 heartbreaker, Tech ran off three straight wins over Texas A&M, TCU and SMU to improve to 8-0 in conference play.

Following a setback in Austin to fall to 17-3, Tech won the final six regular season games to close the campaign 23-4.

In SWC Tournament in Dallas, Tech defeated TCU and SMU to advance to a rubber-match with UT in the championship game. Unlike the previous two years where Gerlich squad lost, Tech downed UT 76-74 to sweep both the SWC regular season and tournament.

After receiving an opening round bye, Tech defeated Santa Clara in Round of 32 to record the programs first NCAA Tournament victory. With the win, Tech also advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history where No. 1 Stanford waited in Seattle.

In the biggest game and arguable most important (more on that to come), Tech fell to the eventual national champions 75-63.

And while the loss was heartbreaking, it may have been the best loss in program history.

Best loss in program history?

Weird phrasing and certainly ironic, but it just might be true.

As fate would have it, the 1992-93 season began on the road at Stanford.

Yes, that Stanford.

The defending national champions that had just beat the Lady Raiders the year prior in the Sweet 16.

Donning black shoes for the first time in program history, the Lady Raiders sat on the sidelines and watched as the Cardinal raised the banner from the year prior.

With the pregame ceremony in the past, the game tipped, and No. 1 Stanford defeated No. 15 Texas Tech.

The loss was one of just three Tech would suffer during the magical season and one of just two losses on the road.

After the Stanford setback, the Lady Raiders went on a run winning the next nine games including the return of the home-and-home against Kim Mulkey and Louisiana Tech.

Riding a nine-game winning streak, Tech went to Utah and lost 72-55. The loss dropped Tech to 9-2.

A week later the Lady Raiders once again were on a winning streak, winning three straight over Southwest Texas State, Houston and SMU.

At 12-2, the next opponent on the schedule was a familiar one: Texas.

Riding a 24-game home winning streak and fresh off defeating UT in SWC championship game a year ago, the Lady Raiders were ready.

In the end, Texas ended up holding on for a one-point victory. Despite the loss, the game served as a turning point for Gerlich, Sharp and the squad.

Tech sold out the old Lubbock Coliseum for the game and lost on a controversial block-charge call.

Call it a turning point.

Call it a watershed moment.

All the cliches apply.

Like the Stanford loss the year prior in the Sweet 16, the progress of the program was on full display.

As Tech rattled off the next 19 games consecutively to win the first team national championship in school history, Gerlich circles back to that moment and that game as to what made that team so special.

Using the fuel from the loss to the Longhorns, the 19-game winning streak began in dominant fashion as Tech downed Rice by 53 and TCU 46 points respectively.

At 14-3, the Lady Raiders were feeling good going into February.

After six wins (four by 30 or more) in the calendars shortest yet second-most important month, the Lady Raiders were sending the rest of the country a message: this team is different.

March started similarly to February, as Tech closed the regular season with a 30-point road drubbing of Texas A&M before returning home for a 32-point senior night win over Baylor.

With the last two wins, Tech closed the regular season at 23-3 and 13-1 in Southwest Conference play and winners of 12 in-a-row.

Like the 91-92 seaon, Tech throttled TCU in the first round of the SWC Tournament on Mar. 10. The next night brought a similar result, as Tech rolled Baylor, 91-67, advancing to the championship game of the SWC Tournament for the fourth consecutive season.

All that stood in the way of another Tech conference title were those pesky Longhorns from Austin.

Unlike the matchup in Lubbock, Tech came out on top, winning 78-71 to clinch back-to-back SWC Tournament titles.

In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, Tech survived a game Washington squad to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season.

The game against Washington was tight clearly, but it also served as a wakeup call or a message.

If Tech's Sweet 16 game against USC was any indication that message was delivered, received, read and processed, as the Lady Raiders rolled to an 87-67 victory to advance to the Elite 8.

Just 40 minutes from Atlanta and the first Final Four in school history, Tech disposed of future Big 12 rival Colorado 79-54. The Buffaloes advanced to the Elite 8 after defeating No. 1 Stanford 80-67.

Heading to Atlanta, Gerlich and the Lady Raiders were confident despite the obstacles that stood ahead.

No. 1 Ohio State, No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 2 Iowa.

Winners of the west regional, Tech matched up with top-seeded Vanderbilt while Big 10 foes Ohio State and Iowa clashed in the other matchup.

After Tech cruised past Vanderbilt 60-46, Ohio State won an instant classic, downing Iowa 73-72 in overtime.

The next night, Tech and Ohio State met for the national championship.

In front of a sold-out crowd, the first championship game to be soldout in history, Tech used a Final Four record 47 points from Swoopes and 14 points from Gerlich to win the school's first national title.

The final score that night in Atlanta was deceiving, as Ohio State hit two late 3-pointers to cut an eight-point Lady Raider lead with 20 ticks to play to just 84-82.

Regardless, for Gerlich, the mission was accomplished.

Proving once again that at Texas Tech, anything is possible.

Skip ahead three decades and what could have been the final chapter in a book, is instead merely the prelude, as Gerlich is back coaching at her alma matter after serving as an assistant under Sharp in the early 2000s.

Back leading the program she once starred for, Gerlich also now gets to watch her daughter Bryn wear the same uniform she once did.

And while her number 21 is in the rafters, never to be worn again, and the surname on the back of the jersey will read Gerlich instead of Kirkland, that moment is certainly not lost on either Gerlich.

"It's super special getting the chance to be a Lady Raider," Bryn Gerlich said. "I grew up coming to Tech games and I don't really remember a time where weren't around this program. And so, the fact that I'm now helping her rebuild what she helped create as a player is something really special. It's something that not a lot of people get the chances to do."

When asked more specifically to sum up what playing in the black uniforms would mean, Bryn was clear that it would be special.

"Getting the opportunity to wear the black uniforms will be really special. That 1993 team made history in those uniforms both for this program and this school. The fact that we're getting to honor them and look like them, hopefully it will bring us a little bit of luck. Hopefully everyone can understand the significance of those uniforms and what was accomplished in them."

PLENETTE PIERSON:
When 18-year-old Plenette Pierson arrived in Lubbock for her visit she knew Texas Tech was the place for her

"On my visit here and coming from the big city, I was floored by all of the farmland. Once I got on campus and walking around the facilities and the USA when it was just a dirt floor was a surreal experience. I remember committing on the spot when I came on my visit because I loved everything about the community and the support. The community, the people. It wasn't so much about the facilities; I cared more about trying to find a home and I knew I found that in Lubbock and at Texas Tech."

What began with Techs' all-time leading scorer Carolyn Thompson and Alica, continued with the Sheryl Swoopes and

The next in line amongst that group?

A 6'2" post-player named Plenette Pierson.

What started on a visit to Lubbock, ended with Pierson finishing inside the top-10 in points (1,602), points per game (15.4), field goals made (602), free throws made (398) and blocked shots (116).

The ultimate competitor and winner Pierson helped lead the Lady Raiders to a 102-30 record during her four years in Lubbock. Tech made two Elite Eight appearances and went to two Sweet 16s.

During her freshman season of 1999-00, the Lady Raiders finished 28-5 overall 13-3 in Big 12 play. Overcoming an 0-2 start, Tech rattled off 13-of-14 overall winning the Big 12 Conference regular season title for the third straight season.

Pierson averaged 13.8 points and 6.9 rebounds in her maiden campaign at Tech, winning Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 99-00.

A year later Pierson was a Second Team All-Big 12 selection.

In 2002-03, Pierson recorded the best individual season of her career when she scored 624 points before being named an Associated Press All-America selection.

After finishing her eligibility at Tech, Pierson was selected by the Phoenix Mercury No. 4 overall in the 2003 WNBA Draft.

Known again for her winning past, Pierson did nothing but continue to build on that reputation, winning three WNBA titles, a championship in Israel and a title in Slovakia during her 16-year professional career.

Drafted by Phoenix, Pierson was traded to Detroit in the middle of the 2005 season. Just 12 months later, in 2006 Pierson ascended to the top of the basketball world winning her first WNBA title.

The year 2007 saw Pierson win the inaugural Sixth Woman of the Year award. The next season, Pierson again won the WNBA title, the second of her career.

Two years later Pierson ended up in New York playing for the Liberty. In 149 games with the Liberty in five seasons Pierson averaged 12.9 points and made a career high 33 starts in 2011.

Pierson would play three more seasons in the WNBA capping her career with her third WNBA title.

After retiring from her WNBA playing career, a coaching opportunity with the Lynx opened up where she spent four seasons as an assistant.

During her four years coaching in the league, Pierson helped lead Minnesota to the playoffs in all four seasons.

When coach Gerlich had an opening on her staff the decision was easy.

The call went to Pierson asking her to come home.

"When I arrived back at Tech, 20+ years later, I still felt the same sentiments as when I first arrived on campus," Pierson added. "I still have people in the community of Lubbock that I knew the first time and are still supporting me. I made some really good friends when I was here, and I just love the support that our young ladies get. I love everything about this university and everything it stands for."

Known for her ability to develop post-players, Pierson's knowledge and teaching has been on full display through the season's first three months.

Houston transfer Jazmaine Lewis has recorded eight games with 10 or more points this season including a career-best 17 points against Sam Houston and 15 points against Texas A&M Corpus Christi. In 68 games at Houston, Lewis had just five double-figure games.

In addition to her strong work with Lewis, Pierson has also continued to work with true freshman Kilah Freelon who has elevated her game as of late. Freelon has scored 31 points in 62 minutes the last three games after scoring just 16 in 15 games prior.

For "Coach P" as she known these days, one thing is clear. The future inside this program is both big and bright.

ZURI SANDERS:
Another member of coach Krista Gerlich's staff is graduate manager Zuri Sanders.

A former Lady Raider standout known for her uncanny ability to rebound the ball, Sanders enters her second and final season back at Tech.

And while she's just in year two back in Lubbock, Sanders' journey as a Lady Raider began over a half decade ago.

Growing up in Evansville, Ind. Sanders recalls her parents placing a strong emphasis on raising strong and independent children.

"My parents were really big on raising strong and independent children," Sanders recalled. "They wanted us to see different parts of the country and not get stuck living in Indiana. My brother went to Florida State and played, and I went here to Texas Tech. And then my sister went to Iowa. So, we were all at least seven-plus hours away from home. Moving to Indiana and Texas may have been hard on paper, but when you have such a great community and a great support system within your family it was a no-brainer to come here."

Recruited by former assistant coach Brandi Poole who now calls Lady Raider games on ESPN+ and works for the Dallas Wings, Sanders made an instant impact right away.

During her freshman season of 2015-16, Sanders averaged 5.3 total rebounds per game, the second-most on the Lady Raider roster.

In a win over ACU, Sanders recorded her first career double-double when she scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Inserted into the starting lineup midway through the 2015-16 season, Sanders averaged almost 10 rebounds per game and had back-to-back double-doubles in the Big 12 Conference Tournament against Iowa State and Baylor.

In Sanders' sophomore season, adversity struck, as the six-foot post tore her ACL and was limited to just 15 total games and 160.5 minutes of action.

After a junior campaign that saw Sanders play in 29 games and make 16 starts, the forward returned to Lubbock in 2018-19 for her fourth and final season.

Playing and starting in all 30 games, Sanders averaged 8.0 points and an outstanding 10.4 rebounds in just under 31 minutes of action per night. The forward led the Big 12 Conference in rebounding and finished the season No. 4 all-time in single-game rebounding in program history.

The highlight of her season was when she became just the ninth player in school history to grab 20+ rebounds in a game.

Throughout her time at Tech, Sanders constantly and consistently went up against some of the best post players in the country. Players that often times stood at six-feet four or six-feet five.

Undaunted, Sanders just kept grinding.

"A quote that my dad always says is that you may not be the best player on the court, but you should never let anyone out work you," the post-player added. "And so that just gave me confidence. From freshman to my senior year, I knew I wasn't always going to be the most talented player on the court, but I was not going to let anyone outwork me."

Following her graduation from Tech, Sanders played one professional season in Santander, Spain.

During the 2019-20 season, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Sanders was forced to return home to Indiana.

"COVID hit in 2020 and that's where my professional career kind of ended," Sanders recalled earlier this week. "My knees could not hold up and I was home doing my home gym workouts, but those scaled back home gym workouts caused my knees to hurt. So that forced me to come to a quick realization that I was done playing basketball."

Sanders spent the majority of the 2020 year helping at her local churches non-profit as a youth employment supervisor, but she had that "itch" to return to the game of basketball.

Enter coach Gerlich and her Lady Raider family.

"When I reached out to Tech, Jordan [Vessels] got back to me and mentioned how she loved my resume and how she wanted to get on the phone," Sanders added. "A couple of days later I was on the phone with coach and instantly I felt this connection with her. She was very transparent, and I was excited to meet her. I told her if you're offering me the chance to come back, I'd love to come back."

And while Sanders accomplished a ton during her playing career there's one missing piece to her basketball career thus far: an appearance in the post-season. So, when Sanders returned to Lubbock to work for her alma matter the goal was simple; help this team return to the place it belongs: the postseason.

"It would be amazing to watch this program get back to the NCAA Tournament. Regardless of whether you're a player or a member of the staff getting the chance to get back to the postseason is remarkable. It's a great accomplishment. I was a part of a team that helped try and rebuild the program, so when the program had the season, it did in 2019-20, I was so happy for my teammates that remained on the team. Sadly, COVID ended their season short, but I truly believe they would have made the tournament which would have been great because it has been so long since this program has made postseason. Now you look at this season we're off to the best start since 2010-11, and coach Gerlich is making great strides towards achieving that."

At 15-5 overall with three top-25 wins in the NET, the Lady Raiders are well on their way.

BRICE LEGAN/BRYANT WHITE:
Both student managers and sons of a pair of members of the 1993 team, Brice Legan and Bryant White have another interesting path to the Lady Raider family.

Growing up here in West Texas, Legan and White were friends and even played high school basketball against one another.

White's mom Terri Meyer Weldon was a graduate manager for the 1993 championship team while Legan's mother Janice was a key player for the '93 team.

Farris scored 197 points in 33 games during the 1992-93 season shooting 61.7 percent (79-128) from the field. Her nearly 62 percent field goal percentage is the second-best single season mark in Lady Raider history, while her career 59.3 percent field goal percentage is also second.

And while the boys grew up as friends, they never thought that they would end up attending Tech and working for Gerlich here at Tech.

"It's super special to be a part of Lady Raider Basketball, but also working under coach Gerlich, White said. "Growing up and knowing her my entire life getting to be here now is so much more significant. I've known coach Gerlich my entire life and even remember going to her games at West Texas A&M and UTA. When I found out she got the job I immediately decided to come to Tech even though Tech wasn't even an option for me. So, it's super special to be a small part of this program as it flourishes."

When asked for his perspective, Legan also agreed just how special working for the Lady Raiders is.

"It means a lot for me to now work for this program," Legan said. "I grew up about 30 minutes from Lubbock and was a Tech fan growing up. I also got the opportunity to go to a lot of different sporting events. But even more than that it's special because coach Gerlich is back. I've known her for 21 years and it's really special to work for both the Lady Raider program and coach Gerlich."

And so, while the highlight of this weekend will certainly be the celebration of the 1992-93 Lady Raider National Championship team, the weekend will also be about the entire Lady Raider program and history.

Players from all seven decades of Lady Raider Basketball will be in attendance.

Women who laid the groundwork. Women who established the culture.

So yeah, Saturday will be special.

Saturday will be about the Lady Raiders, young and old.

Saturday will be about the bonds and memories.

But most importantly.

Saturday will be about the family, the Lady Raider Family.

Five Stories, One Family. This is Lady Raider Basketball

Players Mentioned

Kilah Freelon

Bryn Gerlich

Jazmaine Lewis

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