Texas Tech Athletics
13-5,2-3Big 12
Oklahoma
10-6,4-1Big 12
Sooners defeat Lady Raiders in Norman
January 13, 2024 | Women's Basketball
NORMAN, Okla. – Two Lady Raiders scored in double-figures, but Texas Tech fell to the Oklahoma Sooners, 73-55, at the Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday afternoon.
Senior Jordyn Merritt led the Lady Raiders (13-5, 2-3 Big 12) with 13 points and added six rebounds and two assists against the Sooners (10-6, 4-1 Big 12). Sophomore Bailey Maupin was just behind with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting (,556). Sophomore Kilah Freelon collected eight points and a team-best seven boards in the game, and in addition, Freelon posted her first career 3-pointer and a career-high three blocks.
Texas Tech made the first bucket in the game as Merritt got the offensive rebound and put it back up for two. However, the Lady Raiders only got two more points before the Sooners made four 3-pointers to lead by a 14-4 score and force a Tech timeout with 6:15 left. Tech came out of the timeout on a 6-0 run thanks to baskets from Merritt and Arike to make it 14-10. Oklahoma would score four of the next six points, though, to make it 20-12 heading into the next period.
In the second quarter, both teams were scoreless until the 7:54 mark when Merritt connected with both of her free throws to spark a 7-0 Tech run. The Sooners scored the next three points until Merritt got another offensive board then made a 3-pointer to get within one. However, Oklahoma answered with an 11-0 run over the next three minutes before Ashley Chevalier ended it with a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the half, 34-25.
Oklahoma scored the first points of the third quarter almost two minutes into the period, then Freelon nailed her first career 3-pointer right after. The Sooners went on an 8-2 run to answer, but Maupin stopped it with a layup before Tech called a timeout. Maupin converted the and-one when she hit a jumper and connected with a free throw at 4:06, but the Sooners would go on a 7-1 run right after to extend their lead. Oklahoma ended the quarter with five-straight points for a 56-39 advantage.
In the final quarter, the Sooners began with an and-one play before Jasmine Shavers answered right back with one from beyond the arc followed by a layup from Loghan Johnson. Oklahoma scored three more thanks to a free throw and layup. Then, Rhyle McKinney connected with another 3-pointer for Tech to make it 62-47. Tech tried to come back but the Sooners would hold on for the 73-55 win.
UP NEXT
The Lady Raiders head back to Lubbock as they host the Iowa State Cyclones on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. in the United Supermarkets Arena.
