Texas Tech University Athletics
No. 25 Lady Raiders face Villanova in NCAA Tournament
March 15, 2026 | Women's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – It's been 13 years since the last time the Texas Tech Lady Raiders made the NCAA Tournament. Now they're once again in the postseason dance as they are set to play 10-seeded Villanova in Baton Rouge, La., on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT. The winner of Texas Tech and Villanova will face the winner between 2-seeded and No. 5-ranked LSU and 15-seeded Jacksonville. Â
The Lady Raiders are 25-7 on the season and went 12-6 in Big 12 play to finish tied for fourth in the conference. This is Texas Tech's 21st appearance in the NCAA Tournament as the Lady Raiders hold a 30-19 overall record in the competition. Texas Tech's last appearance was on March 23, 2013, where they fell in a close game to South Florida by a 71-70 score in Spokane, Wash. This will be the first meeting between Texas Tech and Villanova.
The Lady Raiders have put together a magical season this year. Totaling the most overall wins since 2003-04, most Big 12 wins wince 2004-05 and the highest conference finish since 2012-13, Texas Tech is led offensively by the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Snudda Collins and All-Big 12 First Team selection Bailey Maupin, who average a team-best 14.8 and 15.1 points per game, respectively. The Lady Raiders have a stout defense as well, led by Jalynn Bristow with 68 blocks and 40 steals, as well as Gemma Núñez and Denae Fritz with 67 and 64 steals.
Head Coach Krista Gerlich was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year for the first time in her career and to the 2026 Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year Watch List after leading the team to their best start in school history at 19-0 and to a top-25 ranking for 11-consecutive weeks. The Lady Raiders posted key wins over West Virginia, TCU and Baylor (twice), sweeping the Bears for the first time in a season since 2003-04 while also snapping a 31-game Baylor winning streak dating back to 2011. In addition, Texas Tech totaled three top-15 victories this year.
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