Texas Tech University Athletics
No. 8 Lady Raiders Host Rutgers Thursday Night
December 31, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2002
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#8/9 Texas Tech Lady Raiders (9-1)
vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-2)
January 2, 2003 * Lubbock, Texas * 7 p.m.
United Spirit Arena (15,050)
Thursday's Game
No. 8/9 Texas Tech (9-1) hosts Rutgers (6-2) Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena. It is the third meeting between the two schools. The game can be heard on the All Sports Radio Network with Ryan Hyatt and Crystal Boles calling the game.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 9-1 on the year after beating Rice, 70-66, last Monday. On the year, junior Jia Perkins leads the team in scoring with a 17.5 average followed by junior Plenette Pierson at 17.1 and sophomore Cisti Greenwalt at 10.7. Greenwalt is the top rebounder, grabbing 6.6 boards per outing. Greenwalt is shooting a team-high 59.5 percent from the field. Junior Miklannet Tennal is shooting 40 percent from three-point range, while junior Natalie Ritchie is shooting 36 percent. Grant has a team high of 74 assists, while Perkins leads the team in steals with 25. Greenwalt is the top shot blocker with 40 blocks. The Lady Raiders are shooting 47.5 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from three-point range and 65.8 percent from the free throw line.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech will host Pacific Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. and open Big 12 play Jan. 8 at Texas A&M at 7 p.m. The Lady Raiders return home for a game with Baylor Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. On Jan. 11, Tech will be honoring the 1993 National Championship team.
Lady Raider Head Coach Marsha Sharp
One of the most respected and well-known coaches in Texas Tech history, head coach Marsha Sharp is 488-154 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.
