Lady Raiders Try And Lasso SMU Mustangs Saturday
November 29, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2003
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#5 Texas Tech Lady Raiders (5-0)
vs.
SMU Mustangs (1-1)
SMU Hoops for the Cure Tournament - Championship Game
November 29, 2003 * Dallas, Texas * 7 p.m.
Television - Locally in Lubbock - UPN22
Moody Coliseum (8,988)
Tonight's Game
No. 5 Texas Tech will take on SMU in the championship game of the SMU Hoops for the Cure Tournament in Dallas at Moody Coliseum at 7 p.m. Michigan and UTA will square off at 5 p.m. in the consolation game. Tech's game will be televised locally in Lubbock on UPN22 with Vinnie Vinzetta and Crystal Boles calling the game. The game can be heard on the All Sports Radio Network with play-by-play by Ryan Hyatt.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 5-0 after beating Michigan, 74-61, in the first game of the SMU Hoops for the Cure Tournament on Friday. On the year, senior Jia Perkins leads the team in scoring with a 16.4 average followed by freshman Alesha Robertson at 10.5. Senior Casey Jackson is the top rebounder, grabbing 7.6 boards per outing. Sophomore Jametra Clark is shooting 56.7 percent from the field and freshman Brook Baughman is shooting 50 percent. Baughman is shooting 54.5 percent from the three-point arc. Sophomore Erin Grant has a team-high 24 assists, while sophomore Chesley Dabbs leads the team in steals with nine. Perkins is also the top shot blocker with six blocks. The Lady Raiders are shooting 42.5 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three-point range and 75.8 percent from the free throw line.
Scouting the Opponent
SMU enters the game with a 1-1 record after beating Texas-Arlington, 74-71, in the second game of the SMU Hoops for the Cure Tournament. In that game, senior Andrea Cossey scored a game-high 21 points followed by senior Shanta Ramdhanny with 16. Sophomore Sarah Davis grabbed 12 rebounds, while sophomore Kendall Shead collected 10 assists.
On the year, junior Kaira White paces the Mustangs in scoring with a 13.0 average followed by Cossey at 11.5, Ramdhanny at 11.5 and Davis at 10.5. Davis is the top rebounder as she is averaging 10 rebounds per outing. Shead has a team-high 10 assists. Shead and junior Shonte Roberts each have three steals on the season. Davis is the top shot blocker with four blocks. SMU is shooting 41.1 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from three-point range and 67.3 percent from the charity stripe.
Rhonda Rompola is in her 13th year at the helm of the Mustangs and her 13th year as a head coach establishing a career record of 223-137.
Series Record
Texas Tech holds a 39-3 advantage over SMU. Tech has won the last 24 meetings between the two teams. In their last contest, the Lady Raiders defeated the Mustangs 63-47 Dec. 4, 1999 in Lubbock. SMU's last win was a 70-63 triumph Jan. 24, 1989 in Lubbock. Tech is 20-1 against SMU in Dallas on their home court.
Last Time Out
(AP) - Reserve Alesha Robertson scored 13 points, and Casey Jackson ignited a key second-half run as fifth-ranked Texas Tech beat Michigan 74-61 Friday in the SMU Hoops for the Cure tournament.
No starter for Texas Tech (5-0) reached double figures with reserves scoring 41 points. The Lady Raiders will play the winner of the SMU-Texas-Arlington game in the championship game Saturday.
Jennifer Smith had 30 points and eight rebounds, and Tabitha Pool added 16 points for Michigan (3-3).
The Wolverines went on a 6-0 run and pulled to 59-54 with 8:26 remaining, but Tech moved away with its own 7-0 run. Jackson began the run with consecutive baskets, then Brooke Baughman hit a 3-pointer to extend the Lady Raiders' advantage to 66-54 with 4:58 remaining.
The Wolverines got no closer than eight points thereafter.
Robertson scored 11 points in the first half, and Texas Tech led 42-31 at the break. Tech's reserves scored 15 points in a 19-8 run in the final nine minutes of the first half.
The Wolverines hit six of seven shots after halftime to cut into the Lady Raiders' lead. Pool's putback basket brought Michigan to 48-44 with 16:46 left.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech returns home for three-straight games: California (Dec. 1), Wyoming (Dec. 6) and Pacific (Dec. 8). The Lady Raiders will travel to Washington Dec. 19 and return home with a matchup with Stanford Dec. 21. Tech concludes 2003 by playing in the Surf 'N Slam San Diego Hoop Classic Dec. 28, 30.
Lady Raider Head Coach Marsha Sharp
One of the most respected and well-known coaches in Texas Tech history, Hall of Fame head coach Marsha Sharp is 513-159 in her 22nd year at the helm of the Lady Raiders. She has led the Lady Raiders to 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 14 consecutive, and 10 NCAA Sweet 16 and four 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. 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. In May 2003, she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
Robertson Back on Track
After missing the third game of the season with a sprained knee and playing sparingly in the fourth game, freshman Alesha Robertson played 22 minutes against Michigan and scored 13 points and added four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Greenwalt Scores Season High
Junior Cisti Greenwalt scored a season-high nine points in 11 minutes of action against Michigan.
Jackson Ties Steals High
Senior Casey Jackson tied her career high of five steals against Michigan. Jackson also had five steals against Southern Miss in 2001.
Up the Scoring List
Senior Jia Perkins moved into sixth place on Tech's all-time scoring list after the game against Michigan. Perkins has 1,586 career points after five games this season.
Lady Raiders Claim WNIT Title
Texas Tech won the Preseason WNIT Tournament with a 74-35 victory over No. 15 Rutgers. The Lady Raiders won the tournament averaging 76.3 points a game, while their opponents averaged just 45.3 points a game for an average 31-point margin of victory.
Perkins, Jackson Named to All-Tournament Team
Senior Jia Perkins was named the MVP of the Preseason WNIT tournament as she averaged 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in the four games. Senior Casey Jackson was also named to the all-tournament team.
Jackson Pulls Down Career High, Gets Double-Double
Senior Casey Jackson recorded her second career double-double and first of the season against Rutgers as she scored 10 points and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds. The 19 rebounds tied the Preseason WNIT record for most rebounds in a game.
Baughman Puts in Career High
Freshman Brooke Baughman scored a career-high nine points and tied her career highs of four assists and two three-pointers in Tech's victory over Rutgers. She also recorded her first block of her career.
Perkins Moves Up the Charts
Senior Jia Perkins moved into the top five on Tech's all-time field goal attempts list. She ranks fifth with 1,512 attempts. She cracked the top 10 in free throws made with 246.
Double Duty Day for Davis
Sophomore LaToya Davis turned in her first double-double of the year with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Western Kentucky. It marked her third double-double of her career.
Clark A Spark Off the Bench
Sophomore Jametra Clark came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points against Western Kentucky in 16 minutes of play. Last season, Clark had a then career-high 11 points against Texas A&M in Lubbock.
Freshman Has Back-to-Back Double Digits
Freshman Alesha Robertson made her collegiate debut with back-to-back double digit scoring games. Robertson chipped in 14 against UTSA and 10 against Western Kentucky.
100 Percent
Sophomore Erin Grant shot 100 percent from the field, three-point range and from the free throw line against Western Kentucky. Grant was 2-for-2 from the field, including 1-for-1 from the three-point line, and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.
Tech Ties School Record Turnovers
Texas Tech tied its school record for fewest turnovers in a game with five against Texas-San Antonio. The Lady Raiders also had five turnovers against Texas A&M on Jan. 31, 1983.
Perkins Has Career Highs
Senior Jia Perkins grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds against Texas-San Antonio and tied her career high of three blocks. Perkins' previous career high in rebounds was 12 against Creighton last year. She now has had three blocks on four occasions.
Flowers to Redshirt
Freshman Tawanna Flowers will redshirt the 2003-04 season. Flowers suffered a navicular fracture in her right foot during her senior season and is currently rehabbing the injury.
On the Tube
The Lady Raiders will make five national or regional television appearances in regular-season play this season. Texas Tech will appear on ESPN2 once and Fox Sports Net four times. On Fox Sports Net, Tech will play Stanford (Dec. 21), Baylor (Jan. 17), at Texas (Feb. 1) and at Baylor (Feb. 8). On Feb. 22, the Lady Raiders will play Texas on ESPN2. Tech will also have 11 games broadcasted on the local Red Raider Sports Network.
Wade Watch
Senior Jia Perkins was one of 35 players selected as a preseason candidate for the State Farm Wade Trophy/Division I Player of the Year Award by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
Perkins Preseason Wooden Award and Naismith Candidate
Senior Jia Perkins was named to the John R. Wooden Preseason All-America team and was one of 30 players chosen as a candidate for the John R. Wooden Award, which will be presented annually to the most outstanding female collegiate basketball player. She is also one of 30 preseason candidates for the Naismith Player of the Year Award.
Perkins, Grant Among the Best at Their Positions
Senior Jia Perkins was named one of the top five off-guards in the country by ESPN.com, while sophomore Erin Grant was selected as one of the top five point guards. Joining Perkins on the list were Alana Beard (Duke), Kelly Mazzante (Penn State), Diana Taurasi (Connecticut) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota). Along with Grant, Jamie Carey (Texas), Temeka Johnson (LSU), Cappie Pondexter (Rutgers) and Erika Valek (Purdue) made up the top five selections.
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 216 weeks. That includes this week's polls in which Tech is ranked fifth in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA top 25 and fifth in the AP poll.
