Freelon’s double-double pushes Tech past UC Irvine

LUBBOCK, Texas – Sophomore Kilah Freelon totaled her second double-double of the season as the Texas Tech Lady Raiders earned a come-from-behind win over the UC Irvine Anteaters, 60-54, on Wednesday night at the United Supermarkets Arena.

Freelon recorded 12 points and a career-best 13 rebounds, while adding a block, assist and steal in the game for Tech (8-0). Sophomore Bailey Maupin posted her second 20+ point performance of the year when she tallied 21 against the Anteaters (4-3), which also marks double-figure scoring in all eight games so far for her. In addition, Maupin shot 6-of-9 (.667) from the field and 2-of-3 from behind the arc, with four boards, three assists and two takeaways. Sophomore Jada Wynn had a terrific night after connecting with three triples for a season-high nine points on 3-of-6 (.600) shooting. Wynn also posted four rebounds and two assists.

As a team, the Lady Raiders ended with 42 rebounds, 15 of those on the offensive end, as they recorded their third game this year with 40 or more boards. Texas Tech was also 8-of-16 (.500) from the 3-point line for their best outing from beyond the arc this season. Tech’s stout defense held the ‘Eaters to 1-of-19 from three (.005) and forced 14 turnovers.

Tech started the first quarter with a 3-pointers from Jasmine Shavers and Ashley Chevalier as the Lady Raiders took a 6-2 lead. UC Irvine answered with a 6-0 run heading into the media timeout as they went up by an 8-6 score with 4:34 left. Freelon and Maupin answered for Tech with back-to-back layups, but the ‘Eaters scored right after to retake the lead, 10-9. Jordyn Merritt laid one in at the 2:48 mark, but UC Irvine scored five-consecutive points, including a buzzer-beater 3-pointer, to end the period with the 15-11 advantage.

No team scored until almost two minutes into the second period when UCI got a free throw from Shirel Nahum. Tech answered with an 8-0 run thanks to a layup from Freelon and back-to-back triples by Maupin to take the lead, 19-18. However, the Anteaters scored the next six points, then finished the quarter on a 6-0 run to lead heading into the half, 30-21.

Maupin opened the third period helping Tech to a 4-2 run. Both teams traded points until the Lady Raiders went on a 7-0 run thanks to baskets from Shavers, Merritt and Freelon to cut into UC Irvine’s lead, 41-38. The ‘Eaters got another layup in the final minute, but Wynn hit a huge 3-pointer with 28 seconds left as UCI would lead 43-41 to end the period.

Wynn once again hit a big three to open the scoring in the final quarter to take the lead, 44-43. At the 6:24 mark, Rhyle McKinney came in and recorded a clutch shot from behind the arc to increase Tech’s advantage. The teams went back-and-forth until Wynn hit her third 3-pointer of the game, followed by a layup from Elina Arike to give Tech the momentum to close out the contest with the 60-54 victory.

QUOTES

Head coach Krista Gerlich

Opening statement…

“Another gritty performance from this team, I think they are just trying to get people to stay until the end. UCI is a really good team and I think they are going to win a lot of games. I think they are picked to win their conference. They have been in the top 25 or 15 in the nation defensively over the years. I think more of it is because they put you on your heels when they are on offense and it took us a full half to figure out how to slow them down. I thought we had some really gutty performances and had different people step up throughout the whole night… It was a battle. Our kids weren’t panicking, and I really liked that about them. They seemed to keep their composure especially when it was getting heated during timeouts. They took the coaching well and stuck together and I really liked that. Again, I’d like to give UCI a ton of credit, I thought they played really hard and gave us a good scare.”

On the unity of the team helping with the second-half comeback…

“It’s somebody different every night, we keep talking about that. Tonight, it was Jada and Kilah. Bailey was obviously consistent with that. Ashley needs to be on the floor for defense, and for whatever reason, we had a good run going into that zone without her out there. We put her in at the end and she had a smile on her face and a fantastic attitude. She’s just one example of that. Jasmine Shavers didn’t get as many minutes as she usually does. That sort of thing could really tear a team up if they don’t handle it well ,but they are really in it for each other and really excited for each other’s successes. I think that’s the unity and togetherness that we have to continue to win ball games.”

#2 Kilah Freelon

On her biggest improvement…

“I’d say my biggest improvement is toughness. I definitely have been coached on that a lot. I would get rebounds last year, but I would not hold on to it. This year I am taking it away from other players and holding on to it a lot more.”

#24 Jada Wynn

On if her and her dad talked a lot leading up to this game…

“Yeah, it is so weird playing against your parents. He’s secretly cheering for me. It was an awkward situation, but we made the most of it. I was like, ‘I’m going to beat you, we’re winning this game,’ and he was saying the same. So, just that competition was really fun.”

UP NEXT

Texas Tech is back at the United Supermarkets Arena on Dec. 1 for a 6 p.m. contest against the Houston Christian Huskies.

–TECH–
Release provided by Casey Montalvo Texas Tech Athletics