Lady Raiders Drop Big 12 Opener to No. 15 Iowa State Saturday

LUBBOCK, Texas – In the Big 12 opener against the preseason pick to win the league, the Texas Tech Lady Raiders fell to No. 15 Iowa State, 81-58 at United Supermarkets Arena in front of a crowd of 5,868.

After trailing by 17 points with 9:12 to play, Texas Tech (12-2, 0-1 Big 12) used a well timed 10-0 run to close to within 61-54 with 6:13 to play in the ballgame.

On the ensuing Iowa State (9-2, 1-0 Big 12) possession, Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Ashley Joens drove the lane and tumbled to the ground. While falling, Joens filliped up a floater that found the bottom of the net.

In addition to the shot, Joens received four free throw attempts, as Tech guard Bre’Amber Scott was whistled for an intentional foul that counted the basket and gave Joens three attempts from the line.

Joens knocked down all three free throw attempts extending her teams’ 61-54 lead to 66-54.

The sequence proved to be critical, as counting those free throws from Joens, Iowa State scored the next seven and 20 of the final 24.

In the end, Iowa State shot 25-of-27 from the charity stripe, as Tech was called for 23 total fouls. On the flip side, Iowa State was whistled for just 10. The 10 fouls against the Cyclones resulted in just eight free throw attempts. The foul count in the final three quarters was 18-6 in favor of Texas Tech, as the Lady Raiders shot just five free throws. Iowa State saw 24 of its 27 attempts come in the final three quarters.

In what was a spirited affair that was much closer than the final score, Scott finished with a Tech-best 18 points, while post-player Jazmaine Lewis contributed 13 points and six rebounds in a season-high 23 minutes of action.

Iowa State placed four in double-figures led by Joens’ 22 point effort. 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Lexy Donarski added 21 points for ISU while 6’6″ transfer Stephanie Soares added 14 points and 16 rebounds. Soares also blocked four shots in her 30 minutes of play.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
The game got off to a fast start, as the two programs traded haymakers through the opening five minutes.

Powered by four quick points from forward Ella Tofaeono, the Lady Raiders raced out to a 6-4 lead with 6:19 to play in the opening quarter.

Iowa State quickly answered with the next five to jump back in front 9-6 with 5:38 to play.

A Jasmine Shavers jumper sparked an 8-5 run that saw the two teams enter the second tied at 14.

In the second period, Iowa State made it charge.

Scoring the first seven points of the quarter, Iowa State raced out to a 21-14 lead just 1:59 into the second quarter.

Tech responded with four of the next six points and seven of the next nine to draw to within 25-21 with 3:57 to play.

Over the next two minutes and 49 seconds of game action, Iowa State got hot, using the 3-ball to score 15 of the next 17 points to pull in front 40-23 with 68 seconds to play.

Bailey Maupin gave the Lady Raiders some momentum heading into the break when she nailed a triple with 23 seconds to play.  The shot brought Tech to within 40-26 at the break.

In the third, Iowa State again got off to a fast start, scoring the first four of the period and six of the first eight to race out to a 48-28 lead with 7:37 to play in the quarter.

Needing to regain momentum, Tech turned to Lewis. The Houston transfer caped a 15-6 run that cut the Iowa State lead to just 54-43 with 2:29 to play in the third.

Tech couldn’t quite get over the hump the rest of the third period, as Iowa State held the Lady Raiders to just one point over the final two minutes and 29 seconds. The defensive effort allowed the visitors to take a 57-44 lead into the fourth.

In the fourth, Iowa State again struck first scoring the first four points of the period to take a 61-44 lead with 9:12 to play.

Looking to find a way to get back in the game, Tech scored the games next 10 points to pull to within 61-54 with 6:13 to play.

Iowa State used the aforementioned sequence by Joens to score the next seven points and 20 of the final 24.

The loss snapped an 11-game winning streak and marked Tech’s first loss since Nov. 15.

COACH SPEAK (HC KRISTA GERLICH):
“I am proud of our kids for fighting until the end. We had some adversity throughout the game, and I thought our kids held together and gave themselves a chance. Obviously, it got away from us towards the end, but I thought our kids did a pretty good job of staying with it. There are some things we wanted to execute better that we did not do, but our kids did some pretty good things for the most part. You know, the free throw line, obviously, we need to get there more and keep them off the free throw line. I think that is the biggest glaring stat of the night.”

GUARD BRE’AMBER SCOTT:
“This is what we have been waiting for. This is what we want, and we want to play at the highest level. I think everyone on our team wants the challenge as well. We have to practice harder, not complain about not getting calls during practice and just go out there and play. This is big girl basketball. We say we want to make it to the big dance, well this is what we have to do to get there. We have to keep playing hard and focus. We will get it done.”

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• The Lady Raiders were outrebounded by 23 (50-27).
• The 50 rebounds allowed are the most rebounds a Tech team has allowed since Dec. 14, 2020 when Baylor snagged 54 boards.
• Tech fell for the first time this season when forcing more than 15 turnovers. Originally 10-0 in those instances, the Lady Raiders did force 18 turnovers.
• Conversely, the Lady Raiders turned the basketball over just eight times.
• Tech’s bench outscored ISU’s 27-8, meaning that 73 of the Cyclones 81 points game from its five starters.
• With her 13-point performance, Lewis recorded her eighth game with at least 10 points. She is now averaging 9.8 points in just 16 minutes.
• Bryn Gerlich finished with a season-best seven assists on Saturday. She turned the ball over just once.
• The guard now has 53 assists in 13 games this season.

UP NEXT:
The Lady Raiders will again face a top-25 opponent on Wednesday, when they travel to Lawrence to face No. 25 Kansas. Tip-off from Allen Fieldhouse is set for 7 p.m.

–TECH–

Release provided by Andrew Stern Texas Tech Athletics