Texas Tech Athletics
Rice
No. 10 Lady Raiders Win Fourth Straight
December 28, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2000
HOUSTON (AP) - Jia Perkins has a simple philosophy to winning: just give her the ball.
Perkins had a key steal and four free throws in the final 2:26 as No. 10 Texas Tech beat Rice 63-56 Thursday night.
"I like to get the pace going and try to win the games when it's close like that," said Perkins, who hit six of nine shots from the field for the Lady Raiders (9-1). "We were down by one and I was thinking that we needed the ball."
It was the first of two free throws - following the steal - by Perkins that put Tech ahead for good at 57-56.
"I like to have the ball in my hands in those situations," Perkins said.
Rice (8-3) was led by Kenya Tuttle with 16 points and Aarika Florus with 13.
Texas Tech started the second half with five straight points to open its biggest lead at 37-24. Rice then outscored the Lady Raiders 13-2 to cut the deficit to 39-37 with 13:29 remaining.
Perkins then scored five quick points and Plenette Pierson scored four, giving the Lady Raiders a 48-39 advantage with 10 minutes left. Pierson had 17 points in the game.
A basket by Starla James started an eight-point run by Rice that gave the Lady Owls their first lead of the game at 54-53 with 4:18 left.
The Lady Raiders then outscored Rice 10-2 in the final 4:01, with the steal by Perkins keying the decisive rally. Eight of the final 10 points came on free throws.
A pair of 3-point baskets by Candi White sparked Texas Tech to an 8-4 lead. Three straight baskets by Pierson and a 3-point shot by White gave the Lady Raiders a 21-11 advantage with 6:08 left in the first half.
Rice then outscored Texas Tech 12-2, with six points from Florus, to tie at 23-23, with 2:19 left in the half.
The Lady Raiders responded with four straight points by Katrisa O'Neal to regain the lead. After a free throw by Rice, Amber Tarr scored five points in the final 38 seconds of the half to give the Lady Raiders a 32-24 lead.
"We played hard and for the most part smart. Tech expects to win close games like this," said Rice coach Cristy McKinney. "We need to learn how to make those big plays."
