Three Lady Raiders post double figures in victory over Tarleton

LUBBOCK, Texas – Behind double-digit scoring from three Lady Raiders, Texas Tech earned a 70-63 victory over the Tarleton Texans on Friday night at United Supermarkets Arena.

Senior Jordyn Merritt led the team with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while adding two three-pointers, three rebounds and an assist. Sophomore Bailey Maupin was right behind as she posted 16 points and .500 shooting with four rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. Sophomore Jasmine Shavers recorded her second game in a row with double-figure scoring as she had 11 points with six boards and two steals.

In addition, sophomore Kilah Freelon almost collected a double-double in the game as she tallied nine points and eight rebounds. Junior Rhyle McKinney hit two big three-pointers in the fourth quarter as she went 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and also had three rebounds.

In the first quarter, Tech scored seven of the first nine points thanks to a layup from Maupin as well as a layup and a three-pointer from Merritt. It was a heavily defensive quarter as both teams did not score after that for over three minutes until Maupin stole the ball and made a fast break layup to increase the lead, 9-5. Both teams went into another shooting drought after stifling defense, but Freelon answered with a layup for the 12-7 lead to end the first quarter. The Lady Raiders forced eight Tarleton turnovers in the first half and held the Texans to just three field goals.

The Lady Raiders opened the second quarter on a 5-0 run as both Shavers and Elina Arike scored for Tech. Tarleton answered with four-straight points, then Maupin would complete the three-point play after scoring a layup and making a free throw after getting fouled for a 20-12 advantage. Saga Ukkonen connected with a key three-pointer a few buckets later to give the Lady Raiders a 25-12 lead heading into the half. Once again, Tech forced eight turnovers in the quarter and held Tarleton to 3-of-11 shooting.

The Texans made a three-pointer at the start of the third quarter, but Merritt answered with her second three of the night to increase Tech’s lead, 29-18. After that, both teams traded points back-and-forth for the remainder of the quarter as the Lady Raiders would take a 50-38 lead heading into the fourth. Tech scored 24 points to Tarleton’s 23 in the third.

The final quarter was a close one as the Texans fought their way back into the game. With 8:14 left, Merritt would score two layups and a free throw to increase Tech’s lead to 14 at 56-42. Tarleton answered with an 8-0 run to come within six points until McKinney hit a huge three-pointer for the 59-50 advantage. After a layup from Tarleton’s Jakoriah Long to cut into the Lady Raiders’ lead, McKinney hit yet another three to give Tech that momentum to close out the fourth quarter as they would win the game by a 70-63 score.

QUOTES

Head coach Krista Gerlich

Opening statement…

“As I told the girls, any win is a good win. I thought we did some really good things defensively in the first half and I thought we did some really good things offensively in the second half. We got to figure out how to put those four quarters together so that we can have a balanced game. I thought that our kids stepped up when they needed to and made big plays. I thought Bailey’s defense in the second half was some of the best I’ve seen her play since she’s been a Lady Raider… I thought she really rose to the challenge. We’re young, really young on the court and I think these kids are learning a lot every single game.”

On what allows Tech to apply full-court pressure…

“We’re more athletic and we recruited to be more athletic. I think it’s really important for us to apply pressure to the other team in the full court for as long as we can. I’m really proud of the shape that our kids are already in this early in the season. We want our defense to be able to turn into some offense.”

Junior #5 Rhyle McKinney

On her mentality at the end and scoring eight fourth-quarter points…

“I think it’s just that the game was getting close. Coach [Gerlich] was really getting onto us. We had to get big stops and execute our offense. Being a returner, that’s something that I have to do. I have to step up in big moments like that. I have that confidence on this team… I just think that the ball came to me at the right time and I knew I had to knock down big shots to get the win for this team. I’m just confident in everybody on this team. So, if it wasn’t me, it was somebody else. I feel like the shots would have would have went in as well.”

Sophomore #20 Bailey Maupin

On how she feels so far…

“This year has been different than last year, but different in a lot of good ways. I’m not really looking at the points – I’m looking for progress, progress in this team and progress on defense like Coach Gerlich said. But being able to come out and see the basketball go in is always good early in the year.”

UP NEXT

The Lady Raiders host the Lamar Cardinals on Monday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. in United Supermarkets Arena.

–TECH–

Release provided by Casey Montalvo Texas Tech Athletics