Texas Tech Athletics
Creighton
No. 10 Lady Raiders Dominate Creighton, 98-70
December 04, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2002
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - One career-high scoring performance wasn't enough for No. 10 Texas Tech, so they had two in Wednesday night's win over Creighton.
Jia Perkins scored 41 points and Plenette Pierson added 31 as Tech beat Creighton 98-70.
Perkins became the first Tech player since Alicia Thompson in 1997 to score more than 40 points in a game. She had 12 rebounds.
"I think it helped me that we got off to such a fast start," Perkins said. "Plenette hit some big shots early and I think that just kind of set the tempo for us."
Pierson grabbed eight rebounds and had a pair of blocked shots as the Lady Raiders (3-1) took command midway through the second half, extending a 67-55 lead to 85-61 with five minutes remaining.
"I think it was a matter of getting good shots, and I have to thank my teammates for that," Pierson said. "On any given night every shot's not going to fall, but I think I was able to do what I was supposed to help the team."
Tech's coach was pleased with the duo's play.
"I want to congratulate both Jia and Plenette," coach Marsha Sharp said. "They both played outstanding. They had great nights, and they took great shots. They did what we need them to do as far as taking games over."
Creighton coach Jim Flanery certainly wouldn't argue that point after watching the Lady Raider duo scorch his team's defense.
"Perkins and Pierson, I know they don't score 41 and 31 points every night, but they're pretty good players," he said. "We don't see that kind of athleticism every game. That's a great basketball team we played tonight."
Creighton (2-2) got 24 points from Christy Neneman.
The Lady Raiders ran off to a 27-9 lead with 13:05 remaining in the first half.
Pierson and Perkins, who each reached double figures within the game's first eight minutes, combined to score 22 of those points.
Tech led by 21 points twice, the last with 9:12 left in the first half when Jametra Clark's two free throws made it 36-15.
Creighton pulled within 38-29 when Neneman converted a driving layup with 5:56 left, but Tech responded with seven straight points.
"I thought that if you take away the first seven or eight minutes and the last four or five minutes, we played pretty well," Flanery said.
