Lady Raiders fall to UCF at home

LUBBOCK, Texas – Sophomore Bailey Maupin put up 24 points, but the Texas Tech Lady Raiders fell to the UCF Knights, 69-64, on Saturday night at the United Supermarkets Arena.

For the Lady Raiders (16-9, 5-7 Big 12), Maupin recorded her third 20+ point outing and team-leading 21st double-figure game of the season with 24 against UCF (12-10, 3-9 Big 12). She also led the team with three steals and four assists while going 8-of-13 (.615) from the field. Sophomore Jasmine Shavers also had a double-digit game, her 19th of the season, after totaling 13 points with three rebounds.

Junior Rhyle McKinney added 11 points after connecting with a couple of 3-pointers. Sophomore Kilah Freelon went 4-of-7 (.571) from the field to tally nine points against the Knights. Both Freelon and Loghan Johnson also collected four rebounds apiece. Leading the team on the rebounding end was senior Jordyn Merritt, who had seven with three assists.

Maupin got things started after hitting the first bucket of the game with a 3-pointer for an early lead. Tech would go up 5-2 after Shavers made a jumper, but UCF would tie things at 5-all right after. McKinney came in and got four quick points for the Lady Raiders to lead 9-7, but that was all Tech would score the remainder of the period as UCF went on a 14-0 run for the 21-9 advantage.

The Lady Raiders began the second quarter on a 7-2 run after Shavers, Kelly Mora and Maupin all scored. Shavers then recorded the next three points for Tech thanks to a jumper and a free throw to make it 25-19. UCF and the Lady Raiders went back-and-forth until both Jazmaine Lewis and Maupin scored a layup and a 3-pointer, respectively. The Knights would keep the lead, though, and head into the half with the 32-26 advantage.

Both UCF and Tech traded points in the first half of the third quarter. The Lady Raiders were able to get within six points of the Knights, but UCF kept hitting shots to answer Tech’s to remain ahead. Shavers and Johnson scored the last four points for the Lady Raiders in the period, but the Knights held onto the lead by a 53-39 score.

Texas Tech came out hot in the final quarter as the team went on an 8-0 run to start, highlighted by a Maupin and one play where she converted the three points. Halfway through, McKinney nailed a huge 3-pointer for the Lady Raiders to make it 56-52. However, UCF responded with a 4-0 run before Maupin stopped it with a couple free throws. The Lady Raiders would not score a field goal for over four minutes until McKinney hit another three with 42 seconds left. UCF would get fouled and miss both free throws as Tech got the rebound and layup from Freelon to come within four. But, the Knights held on to win the game by a 69-64 score.

UP NEXT

The Lady Raiders are back at the United Supermarkets Arena next Wednesday, February 14 at 6 p.m. against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls.

–TECH–

Release Provided by Casey Montalvo Texas Tech Athletics