Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Incarnate Word
Lady Raiders open 50th season at home against Cardinals
November 03, 2024 | Women's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – The 50th season of Lady Raider Basketball is here as Texas Tech opens its 2024-25 schedule with a home game against the Incarnate Word Cardinals on Monday, November4 at 6 p.m. in the United Supermarkets Arena. Texas Tech is currently on a 5-0 win streak against Incarnate Word dating back to 2015. The two teams last played in 2023-24 as the Lady Raiders came out with the 76-35 victory on December 13, 2023.
The Lady Raiders are made up of 10 upperclassmen on a team of 15. The team is led by the junior class, who boasts eight players in it - Kilah Freelon, Jasmine Shavers, Denae Fritz, Adlee Blacklock, Sarengbe Sanogo, Ivana Krajina, Jada Wynn and Bailey Maupin. The two seniors on the team are Jordyn Merritt and Maya Peat. Of the six transfers on the team, half of them have experience in the NCAA Tournament - Fritz with Iowa State and Baylor, Blacklock with Oregon State and Jalynn Bristow with Iowa State.
Texas Tech is returning six of its top scorers from a season ago in Shavers (15.4ppg), Maupin (14.1ppg), Merritt (8.1ppg), Kilah Freelon (7.9 ppg), Wynn (4.8ppg) and Loghan Johnson (4.4ppg). Last year, the team also ranked 67th nationally after forcing 18.15 turnovers per game. Merritt and Freelon are two of the best shot blockers on the team, recording 49 total between both last year. Maupin and Shavers also led the way in takeaways with a team-best 42 steals each.
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention player, Shavers, had a breakout year in 2023-24, ranking ninth in Big 12 scoring with 15.4 points per game and leading the Lady Raiders in that category. Shavers also finished third on the team with 5.0 rebounds per game and tied for the team lead with 42 steals. She ranked 65th nationally at the free throw line and 5th in the Big 12 with an .836 free throw percentage while also leading Tech with 508 points.
Maupin, who also earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, continued her successes from her freshman campaign last year. She was great at getting to the free-throw line, drawing the most fouls on the team, as she ranked 38th nationally and 3rd in the Big 12 with an .858 free throw percentage as well as 58th nationally and fifth in conference with 127 free throws made. Maupin also tied for the team lead with 42 steals and led the Lady Raiders with 102 assists last season, 22 more than the next Lady Raider who had 80.
Tech also returns Merritt and Freelon, who led the team in rebounds per game and blocks. Merritt averaged 5.6 rebounds per game and 8.1 points per game with a team-leading 31 blocks. Freelon recorded a team-best 5.7 rebounds per game and was fourth on the team with 7.9 points per game.
In addition, the Lady Raiders return Wynn, who is a 3-point weapon for Texas Tech, ranking second on the team with a .388 3-point percentage and third on the team with 33 made threes. Tech also returns Johnson, who finished last season fifth on the team in scoring and added 87 rebounds, 32 assists and 18 steals.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Last season, Incarnate Word put together an overall 19-11 record and a 12-7 record in the Southland Conference. Coached by Jeff Dow who has over 330 career wins, the Cardinals ended 2023-24 averaging 62.5 points per game while holding opponents to 57.4 points per game. UIW shot 37.6 percent from the field and 72.2 percent from the free throw line. As a team, the Cardinals averaged 38.9 rebounds per game, 11.8 assists per game, 7.1 steals per game and 2.4 blocks per game.
FAN INFORMATION/PROMOTIONS
- Doors open one hour prior to tipoff at the United Supermarkets Arena.
- The clear bag policy is in effect for all Texas Tech Athletics events.
- All tickets are now mobile using a new digital ticketing system.
- Fans can also purchase tickets online or at the arena.
- Theme: Opening Night
- Player Recognition: Jada Wynn
- Giveaway: Posters and schedule cards
LIVE STATS/STREAMING
Live stats will be provided on StatBroadcast here and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. Fans can also listen to the game in the Varsity Network App.
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