Texas Tech Drops Road Contest at OSU, Despite Career-high from Bryn Gerlich

STILLWATER, Okla. – Despite a career-best 25 points from Bryn Gerlich in her former stomping grounds, the Texas Tech Lady Raiders fell 86-74 Wednesday night to Oklahoma State at Iba-Gallagher Arena.

Leading 70-69 with 5:23 to play, Texas Tech (16-7, 3-6 Big 12 Conference) was outscored 17-4 over the final five minutes to fall for the seventh straight time to Oklahoma State (15-7, 5-5 Big 12).

Over the final 20 minutes of play, Gerlich was simply sensational scoring 21 of her 25 points over that span. In the end, the guard was 10-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-6 from 3-point range. The only thing that slowed the younger Gerlich down on Wednesday was foul trouble, as the former Cowgirl played just 28 minutes and 10 seconds.

Freshman Bailey Maupin reached double figures for the first time since Jan. 7, scoring 11 points before she fouled out. Four of Maupin’s five fouls occured in the final 10 minutes of action.

In the end, OSU 30 free throws while Tech managed just 14 attempts from the line. Tech was whistled for 27 fouls while OSU was called for just 13.

Ok State placed five of its seven players in double-figures led by UTA transfer Terryn Milton. Milton scored 22 points and ended with nine assists and six rebounds. She ended up +17 on the evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Behind five quick Tech turnovers, OSU got off to a strong 9-3 start with 7:25 to play in the opening quarter.

After Rhyle McKinney made her second 3-pointer of the contest to draw Tech to within 9-6 with 6:52 to play, OSU scored nine of the next 11 to take a 15-8 lead with 5:09 to play in the first.

Tech used a triple from Bre’Amber Scott to cap a 12-3 run that gave the Lady Raiders their first lead at 20-18 with 1:21 to play in the first quarter.

OSU answered with the next four points before Tech used a driving layup from Scott to tie the game at 22-all heading to the second quarter.

Scott scored just seven points total on Wednesday, marking the first time since Dec. 22 that she did not reach double figures.

In the opening quarter, the Lady Raiders shot a blistering 9-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-4 from three.

Over the first three minutes and 23 seconds of the second, Tech and OSU traded baskets, as OSU led 30-29 with 6:37 to play in the quarter.

Despite the strong start, Tech allowed Oklahoma State to score 14 of the final 21 points of the seconda quarter, as the Cowgirls led 44-36 at the break.

OSU scored 28 of its 44 first half points in the paint and shot 18-of-29 (62.1 percent) from the floor.

After a Lexy Keys basket gave OSU its first double-figure lead at 46-36 with 9:15 to play in the third, Tech answered with the next nine points to draw to within 46-45 with 17 minutes and 16 seconds to play.

OSU answered with the next six points and 10 of the next 12 to take a nine-point (56-47) with 2:31 left in the third.

Then Bryn went work.

The combo-guard scored the next eight points to cut the OSU lead to 58-55 with 75 seconds to play in the third.

Gerlich’s second triple was nearly a 30-footer that banked in. The eight-point spurt gave the Texan 12 points for the quarter as she shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor.

OSU answered the Gerlich outburst with three quick points to take a 61-55 lead heading to the fourth.

Tech used nine more points from Gerlich to surge all the way back in front, 64-63 with 7:50 to go in the ball game.

The two teams continued to trade punches down the stretch until OSU used a 16-0 run to surge in front 85-70.

Tech was unable to get any closer than 12 down the stretch, falling 86-74.

COACH SPEAK HC KRISTA GERLICH:
“We lost our composure a bit tonight, and we didn’t execute very well out of a timeout. OSU did change defenses quite a bit on us early in the fourth quarter and we didn’t handle that well, which is disappointing because we’ve been really good against zone this season. The first five minutes of the game we turned the ball over because of what we were doing. We had five turnovers on the first five possessions and it was all us. After that, Oklahoma State played good defense and got after us. They got through some passing lanes and took away what we were trying to do. We had several offensive fouls which were unfortunate. I definitely don’t anything away from Oklahoma State because they made us turn the basketball over.”

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Scott failed to an attempt a free throw for the first time this season.
• Her seven points were the fewest she’s scored in a Big 12 game this season.
• Tech shot 51.8 percent from the floor and made seven 3-pointers.
• The Lady Raiders outscored OSU 21-15 from behind the arc.
• The Lady Raiders were outscored 48-42 in points in the paint.
• Tech turned the ball over 22 times and OSU turned those turnovers into 24 points.
• Shavers scored 10 points tonight. It was her 11th game with 10+ points overall and sixth in Big 12 play.
• Katie Ferrell scored a season-high nine points. She did however foul out for the sixth time.
• She shot 4-of-5 from the floor.

UP NEXT:
The Lady Raiders begin the second-half of the Big 12 season when Kansas State comes to town on Sunday. Tip-off from United Supermarkets Arena is set for 1 PM. The game will be televised on ESPNU.

–TECH–

Release provided by Andrew Stern Texas Tech Athletics

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