Smothering defense leads Tech to 79-34 victory over HCU
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech Lady Raiders held their opponent to the lowest amount of points since 2010 as the Scarlet & Black overpowered the Houston Christian Huskies, 79-34, on Friday night at the United Supermarkets Arena.
Tonight’s 34 points for HCU (3-5) was the lowest outing for an opponent since the Lady Raiders (9-0) held Mississippi Valley State to 28 on Nov. 23, 2010. Becoming the first team in Division I to get to 9-0, and leading the country in wins, the Lady Raiders had a great passing performance with 25 assists on the night as they totaled 10 in each of the last two quarters. In addition, the 25 assists are the most since the team had 32 against Oklahoma State on Feb. 1, 2020. Texas Tech also held Houston Christian to single-digit scoring in the first three quarters of the game – 8, 6 and 2, respectively – making it the 11th time this year the team has kept opponents to single-digit scoring in a period.
Four Lady Raiders recorded double-figures in the game – Jordyn Merritt, Jazmaine Lewis, Kilah Freelon and Elina Arike. Merritt collected her first double-double of the year with a team-best 12 points and 10 rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting (.500) with two blocks and an assist. Lewis also led the team with 12 points as she was 5-of-7 (.714) from the field and had three boards.
Freelon posted her second-consecutive game in double-figures with 10 points on the night, while adding five rebounds, three steals and two assists. Arike recorded her second game this year in double-digits as she has 10 points on the night, while making 5-of-7 from the field. Jasmine Shavers tallied nine points and a career-best five assists with two steals, and Jada Wynn recorded a career-best five dishes and 24 minutes of playing time against the Huskies.
Houston Christian started the first quarter on a 6-0 run until Tech made its first bucket of the period at the 5:10 mark when Lewis laid one in. Lewis’ basket sparked a huge run for the Lady Raiders as they scored the next 14 points, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Wynn and a couple of and one plays from Ashley Chevalier and Merritt. HCU posted two more free throws at the end, but the Lady Raiders would lead 16-8 after one.
Merritt opened the second quarter with a layup just 12 seconds in to take a 10-point lead. Both teams wouldn’t score for almost two minutes until Maupin connected with a jumper for the 20-8 advantage. Arike would make another layup for Tech at the 7:02 mark before a scoring drought ensued for both teams. Freelon was able to end that, however, after scoring four-consecutive points with three minutes left, followed by another four points from Lewis as the Lady Raiders headed into halftime with the 30-14 advantage.
The Lady Raiders almost held the Huskies to 0 points in the third quarter (which would be the second time this season it happened) after outscoring HCU 27-2. Tech went on a 19-0 run and did not allow Houston Christian a single point in the first 5:45 of the quarter. The Huskies’ only points came from a couple free throws at the 3:14 mark. The Lady Raiders closed out the quarter scoring the next eight points to lead 57-16.
In the final quarter, HCU went on a 7-2 run to start before the Lady Raiders scored the following six points, highlighted by buckets from Lewis, Freelon and Kelly Mora. Both teams went back-and-forth until Johnson recorded the last five points of the game in the final minute to increase Tech’s lead and win the game, 79-34.
QUOTES
Head coach Krista Gerlich
Opening statement…
“”Really slow start out of the gates but I’m really proud of the kids for responding and just getting their act together and playing some good basketball. The most assists in the past three years for this team with 25 and I couldn’t be prouder of them for that… This team has a lot of weapons and we need to share the basketball. We’re going to continue to get better and better if we can continue to do that. Also talking care of the basketball, which was much better in the second half. I thought our post game was very good — I believe four out of our five post players were in double digits, which was definitely our game plan against them. We definitely knew that we could have an inside presence. We’re going to need that moving forward. Proud of these two kids (Jordyn Merritt and Elina Arike) – I thought they both had really great nights, and they work really well together. Really proud to see Jordyn get on the boards as well. Great game for us, great game for our kids to be able to get a lot of playing time. Tough game fatigue-wise after four games in eight days, so I’m really proud of them for pushing through.”
On a 9-0 start to the season…
“We’ve got to continue to get better. Every game presents us with a different challenge and there’s things we talk about on the daily about getting prepared for Big 12 play. Whether it’s an opponent that really challenges or maybe one that’s not as challenging. There’s still things that we need to get better at, and I think our kids are starting to buy into that and starting to see that they can’t take things for granted. They’ve got to set great picks, they’ve got to rebound the basketball, they’ve got to get back in transition and they’ve got to take care of the ball. All of those things are going to pay dividends whenever we get to Big 12 play, but I’m proud of the kids for taking care of business.”
#12 Jordyn Merritt
On her performance tonight…
“I’m just really grateful to have the opportunity that I had. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates passing me the ball and being able to crash the boards. I’m just really glad to be here.”
#13 Elina Arike
On having a good start with Texas Tech…
“Obviously, I have had college experience before, so I think that definitely helps, but also the system is not too complicated. We do great, simple stuff and we do it well. I think that helps a lot with executing and obviously just having the summer and fall to work together just helps a lot.”
UP NEXT
Texas Tech is back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 5 as they host the Sam Houston Bearkats for a 6 p.m. contest at the United Supermarkets Arena.
–TECH–
Release Provided By Casey Montalvo Texas Tech Athletics
