Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Set To Host Oregon State
December 16, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2002
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#9/10 Texas Tech Lady Raiders (4-1)
vs.
Oregon State Beavers (5-2)
December 17, 2002 * Lubbock, Texas * 7 p.m.
United Spirit Arena (15,050)
Tuesday's Game
No. 9/10 Texas Tech (4-1) will host Oregon State (5-2) on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena. It is the fourth meeting between the two schools. The game can be heard on the radio as Ryan Hyatt and Crystal Boles will be calling the game on the All Sports Radio Network.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 4-1 on the year after beating Wyoming, 84-64, on Dec. 14. On the year, junior Jia Perkins leads the team in scoring with a 20.6 average followed by senior Plenette Pierson at 18.2, and sophomore Cisti Greenwalt at 12.2. Greenwalt is the top rebounder, grabbing 7.0 boards per outing. Greenwalt is shooting 61.5 percent from the field and Perkins is shooting 53.4 percent. Junior Natalie Ritchie is shooting 47.1 percent from three-point range. Grant has a team high of 45 assists, while Perkins leads the team in steals with 14. Greenwalt is the top shot blocker with 20 blocks. The Lady Raiders are shooting 50.7 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from three-point range and 68.8 percent from the free throw line.
Scouting the Opponent
Oregon State enters the game with a 5-2 mark after beating Florida, 49-48, last Saturday in Corvallis, Ore. In that game, freshman Mandy Close scored a team-high 11 points, while junior Brina Chaney and sophomore Jessica Jones each chipped in 10. Chaney also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. Junior Leilani Estavan had six assists and four steals, while Chaney had five blocks.
On the year, Chaney paces the Beavers in scoring with a 10.4 average followed by Estavan at 10.0. Chaney is also the top rebounder, grabbing 8.1 boards per contest. Estavan has team highs of 36 assists and 20 steals. Chaney is the top shot blocker with 19 blocks. OSU is shooting 37 percent from the field, 18.2 percent from three-point range and 65.4 percent from the charity stripe.
Judy Spoelstra is in her in her eighth year at the helm of the Beavers establishing a record of 100-107. She is also in her 14th season as a head coach with a career record of 198-175.
Series Record
Texas Tech holds a 2-1 advantage over Oregon State after beating the Beavers, 64-60, last year in Corvallis, Ore. The series dates back to the 1984-95 season with Tech defeating OSU, 79-55, on Nov. 23, 1984 at the Wayland Queen's Classic. The Beavers then beat the Lady Raiders, 69-58, Nov. 29, 1986 in Corvallis. This is the first meeting in Lubbock.
Last Time Out
(AP) - Cisti Greenwalt was more excited about her blocked shots than her career-high point total.
The 6-foot-5 sophomore had a career-best 26 points and her collegiate-best eight blocks to lead No. 10 Texas Tech to an 84-64 victory over Wyoming on Saturday night.
"I loved it," Greenwalt said. "I was really trying for 10. I love blocking shots. That's the most fun part of the game."
Tech controlled the game from the onset, charging to a 25-4 lead, then stretching its advantage to 27 points three times in the second half.
Greenwalt made her first seven shots and shot 10-for-13 in the game. She also had a game-high seven rebounds.
Plenette Pierson and Jia Perkins each scored 14 points for Tech.
Ashley Elliott had 18 points and seven assists to lead Wyoming, which was held to 16 percent shooting in the first half. Carrie Bacon scored 16 points and Ann McColl added 10 for the Cowgirls.
Despite the 20-point margin of victory, Greenwalt said the Cowgirls' big players were formidable.
The Lady Raiders were outscored 44-40 in the second half.
The Lady Raiders shot 56 percent (35-of-63) for the game. Wyoming shot 32 percent (20-of-62).
Greenwalt scored nine points to help the Raiders speed to a 25-4 lead just over eight minutes in.
Elliott hit a pair of 3-pointers and two free throws in a 12-3 run by the Cowgirls, who closed within 28-16 at the 7:46 mark.
Texas Tech closed the first half with a 16-4 run. Greenwalt scored eight in the surge. Tech extended its lead to 27 three times in the second half and never let Wyoming closer than 18 points.
Greenwalt shot 7-for-7 from the field and 4-for-5 from the line to score 18 points in the first half.
A Look Ahead
The Lady Raiders head to Hawai'i for games on Dec. 20 against Chattanooga and on Dec. 21 against either Hawai'i or Loyola Marymount. Tech finishes the 2002 year with games at Southern Miss Dec. 28 and at Rice Dec. 30. The Lady Raiders will start 2003 with two home games against Rutgers Jan. 2 and Pacific Jan. 5.
Lady Raider Head Coach Marsha Sharp
One of the most respected and well-known coaches in Texas Tech history, head coach Marsha Sharp is 483-154 in her 21st year at the helm of the Lady Raiders. Entering the 2002-03 season, Sharp was the seventh active winningest coach among Division I coaches. She has led the Lady Raiders to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 13 consecutive, and nine NCAA Sweet 16 and three Elite Eight appearances and the NCAA National Championship in 1993. Sharp led the Lady Raiders to three-straight Big 12 Conference regular-season titles (1998-2000) and two tournament crowns (1998, 1999). While in the SWC, coach Sharp and the Lady Raiders never finished below third, they won or shared the last five championships, and they captured three Post-Season Classic titles.
Sharp was also the head coach of the 2002 USA Basketball World Championship For Young Women Qualifying Team, which won the gold medal in Brazil.
A 1974 graduate of Wayland Baptist University, Sharp was named the National Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994. She also reaped SWC Coach of the Year honors seven times, five consecutively.
On the Road in December
Texas Tech will play five of its seven games in December on the road. Tech traveled to Wyoming Dec. 14 and will play two games in Hawai'i Dec. 20-21 before the Christmas break. The Lady Raiders will then conclude 2002 with games at Southern Miss Dec. 28 and at Rice Dec. 30.
Greenwalt Puts Up Career Highs
Sophomore Cisti Greenwalt poured in a career-high 26 points while adding a career-high eight rebounds in Texas Tech's win over Wyoming in 22 minutes of action. Greenwalt shot 76.9 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line. She is now tied for eighth on Tech's all-time career list for blocks with 80. The eight blocks is also second-best in Big 12 history behind former Tech standout Crystal Boles' nine. Greenwalt is shooting 61.5 percent from the field for the year.
Season High Shooting Percentage
Texas Tech shot 55.6 percent from the field against Wyoming, which was a season high for the Lady Raiders. Their previous season high was 54.3 percent against Washington.
Pierson, Perkins in Double Digits Again
Senior Plenette Pierson and junior Jia Perkins each chipped in 14 points against Wyoming. Perkins also matched her season high of five assists, while Pierson tied her season-high two steals. Perkins has scored in double figures in all five games, while Pierson has been in double digits in four contests.
Davis Returns
After sitting out a game with a sprained knee, freshman LaToya Davis returned to action against Wyoming. Davis came off the bench to score eight points and grab four rebounds in 12 minutes of play.
Tech Ties Blocks Record
Texas Tech tied its school record of 13 blocked shots in a game. Tech has now had 13 swats on four occasions in school history.
Perkins Joins Elite Club
Junior Jia Perkins poured in a career-high 41 points against Creighton to become just the fourth player in school history to score 40 or more points in a game. Perkins joins Sheryl Swoopes, Alicia Thompson and Carolyn Thompson on that list. Her 41 points ranks sixth for most points scored in a game by an individual; it tied Thompson's 41 points against Oklahoma on Feb. 18, 1982.
Perkins Has Career Day, Named Big 12 Player of the Week Not only did junior Jia Perkins score a career-high 41 points against Creighton, she also had a career-high 12 rebounds, while tying her career high of six steals. It also marked her first double-double of the season. She was named the Big 12 Player of the Week Dec. 9 for her efforts vs. Creighton.
Pierson Hits 30 Mark
For the first time in her career, senior Plenette Pierson scored 30-plus points in a game. Pierson scored a career-high 31 points against Creighton. Her previous career high was 28 against Virginia Tech on March 19, 2001.
High Scoring Games
In Tech's last four games, the Lady Raiders have scored 80 or more points in each contest. Tech poured in a season-high 99 points against Washington and then had 81 vs. Valparaiso. The Lady Raiders hit 98 against Creighton and 84 vs. Wyoming. Tech is averaging 90.5 points over the last four games and 87.6 for the year. In the Lady Raiders' four victories, they have outscored their opponents by an average of 28.7 points a game.
Block Party
Sophomore Cisti Greenwalt and senior Plenette Pierson rank eighth and 10th, respectively on Tech's all-time career list for blocks. Greenwalt is tied for eighth with Julia Koncak (1983-87) with 80 blocks, while Pierson in tied for 10th with Michi Atkins (1992-96) with 78.
Dishing Out
Freshman Erin Grant recorded three-straight games of 10 or more assists: Valpo (10), Washington (14), Creighton (10). For the year, she has totaled 45 assists for an average of nine assists per contest.
Grant Named Big 12 Rookie of the Week and Sets Freshman Record
Freshman Erin Grant was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week Nov. 25 for her performances against Louisiana Tech and Washington. Grant set the freshman record for assists in a game as she dished out 14 against Washington, while committing only two turnovers. She tallied 13 points and six assists against Louisiana Tech. She is averaging 10 assists a game, a team high. She also leads the team in free throw percentage at 87.5. The previous was 10 by Jia Perkins against Southeast Louisiana Dec. 19, 2000 and against USC Dec. 22, 2000.
Another Double-Double for Pierson
Senior Plenette Pierson recorded her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds against Washington. It also marked her 16th career double-double.
Ritchie Pours It On
Junior Natalie Ritchie lit it up against Washington as she scored a game-high 20 points, connecting on 7-of-14 shot attempts, including 4-for-10 from three-point range. She was just one point shy of tying her career high of 21 points.
Davis Has Good First Outing
Freshman LaToya Davis came off the bench for the Lady Raiders to chip in 14 points and five rebounds in 15 minutes of action in her first collegiate game against Washington.
Pierson Hits 1,000 Mark
Senior Plenette Pierson has now scored 1,069 points in her career at Texas Tech, which ranks 18th all-time. Standing in 17th is Connie Robinson (1993-95) with 1,070. Pierson entered the season with 978 points and scored 25 points in Tech's opening game against Louisiana Tech to surpass the 1,000-career mark.
On the Tube
The Lady Raiders will make seven national or regional television appearances in regular-season play this season. Tech will appear on ESPN2 twice and Fox Sports Net five times. Tech lost to Louisiana Tech on ESPN2 on Nov. 10 and will play Iowa State Feb. 9 on ESPN2. The Lady Raiders' games on Fox Sports Net include: Washington (Nov. 24), Oklahoma State (Jan. 18), at Colorado (Jan. 26), Texas (Mar. 2) and Kansas State (Mar. 6).
Tech Preseason Conference Favorites Texas Tech was picked to win its fourth Big 12 Conference women's basketball title in preseason polls voted on by the league's head coaches and by the media. In the coaches poll, Tech was first with 114 points, including six first-place votes, followed by Kansas State with 113 and Texas with 105. In the media poll, Tech received 192 points and nine first-place votes, while edging Kansas State with 191 points and seven first-place votes. Texas was third with 173 and one first-place vote.
Sharp One of the Elite
Head coach Marsha Sharp's .75753 winning percentage ranks seventh among winningest active coaches. Entering the 2002-03 season, Sharp had a 478-153 career record according to NCAA standards. The NCAA does not include forfeits in the overall record, which is 479-153. Sharp won a game by forfeit during the 1988-89 season against Baylor.
Pierson and Perkins Picked as One of Best at Their Positions
Senior Plenette Pierson and junior Jia Perkins have been nabbed as one of the top five in the country at their respective positions by ESPN.com. Pierson was named one of the top five power forwards along with Oklahoma's Caton Hill, LSU's Aiysha Smith, Mississippi State's LaToya Thomas and Kansas State's Kendra Wecker. Perkins was listed on the top five off-guards list along with Duke's Alana Beard, Penn State's Kelly Mazzante, Connecticut's Diana Taurasi and Minnesota's Lindsay Wilson. Tech was one of five schools (Vanderbilt, Kansas State, LSU and Mississippi State) to have two players listed at the five positions.
Sharp Selected USA Basketball 2002 Developmental Coach of the Year
Head coach Marsha Sharp was named USA Basketball 2002 Developmental Coach of the Year. USA Basketball's Developmental Coach of the Year award was established in 1996 to recognize a USA Basketball head coach who, during the year of the award, made significant impact on the success of individual athlete and team performance at the developmental level. Sharp was the head coach of the 2002 USA Basketball World Championship For Young Women Qualifying Team that captured the gold medal in Brazil with an unblemished 4-0 record and qualified USA Basketball for the 2003 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Championship For Young Women. Tech's Jia Perkins was a member of the team.
Nagle Sidelined
Senior Jamie Nagle will be sidelined after having lateral meniscus repair done to her right knee. Nagle is expected to sit out until at least December.
RPI
As of games through Dec. 15, Texas Tech was ranked seventh in the WBCA/Summerville RPI (rate percentage index).
Lady Raiders in the Polls
Since January 20, 1992, the Lady Raiders have been ranked in the Top 25 in the Associated Press and/or the USA Today poll a total of 199 weeks. That includes this week's Associated Press poll in which Tech is ranked ninth. This week's USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches poll has yet to be released.
