Tech falls on the road to Cowgirls

STILLWATER, Okla. – Sophomore Jasmine Shavers collected her second career double-double, but the Texas Tech Lady Raiders fell to the Oklahoma State Cowgirls, 71-58, on Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Shavers led the Lady Raiders (13-4, 2-2 Big 12) with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while sophomore Bailey Maupin was just behind with 16 points and six boards against the Cowgirls (10-5, 3-1 Big 12). Maupin also recorded three assists and two steals on the night.

With 17 and 16 points, Shavers posted her 13th double-digit scoring game and Maupin added her team-best 16th on the season. Senior Jordyn Merritt recorded five points, two assists, two steals and a couple blocks in the game. The Lady Raiders were able to force 21 Oklahoma State turnovers, but the Cowgirls were able to hold on thanks to 54.9 percent shooting.

Shavers started the scoring when she made a jumper 45 seconds into the first quarter to give the Lady Raiders their only lead of the half. Oklahoma State went on a 5-0 run before Elina Arike stopped it with a layup to make it 7-4. Both teams wouldn’t score for almost two minutes until the Cowgirls hit back-to-back 3-pointers to end the period with the 13-4 advantage.

Jordyn Merritt connected with a layup to start the second quarter, but the Cowgirls immediately answered on the next possession with a layup of their own. Shavers followed with a mid-range jumper before the Cowgirls went on a 6-0 run thanks to a couple of threes. Shavers again ended the momentum when she hit one from beyond the arc, the Lady Raiders’ first three of the night, as OSU led 23-11. The Cowgirls scored the next six points, but Maupin went on a 5-0 run herself with a jumper and a long 3-pointer to cut the lead in half. Oklahoma State closed the half with a 6-2 run to lead, 36-20.

Tech’s first points of the third quarter came from Freelon 40 seconds in, then Merritt connected with a 3-pointer to cut into the lead, 40-25. At the 7:00 mark, Arike made two free throws to spark a 10-0 run for the Lady Raiders, highlighted by threes from Shavers and Jada Wynn. Tech would score four of the last seven points of the period, outscoring the Cowgirls 19-14, but OSU still led by a 50-39 score.

Oklahoma State scored the first five points in the final quarter until Loghan Johnson made two free throws to end the run. Maupin would hit a 3-pointer after the media timeout, but OSU responded with an 8-0 run thanks to two and-one plays as well as two more free throws from Hannah Gusters. Maupin stopped the run with a jumper, then both teams traded points for the remaining two and a half minutes as OSU held the lead. Tech would score a few free throws and a 3-pointer at the end of the game, but the Cowgirls held on to win it by a 71-58 score.

UP NEXT

The Lady Raiders are back on the road for a Big 12 game against the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.

Release provided by Casey Montalvo Texas Tech Athletics