Texas Tech Athletics
UCLA
Lady Raiders Win Thriller at UCLA
December 19, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2009
LOS ANGELES - Ashlee Roberson hit two free throws with 4.7 seconds to go in the game to give Texas Tech a four-point lead as the Lady Raiders hung on to beat UCLA 59-58 tonight at Pauley Pavilion.
The game was a close one throughout as Tech (9-1) led most of the way, including the whole first half, but its biggest lead was only six points at 20-14 when Mary Bokenkamp nailed a three-pointer with 10:31 to go in the period.
The Lady Raiders held a three-point advantage at the half, 29-26.
The battle continued in the second half and UCLA (5-4) tied it up at 41-41 with 10:25 remaining when Erica Tukiainen sank a three. The Lady Raiders responded right back as Jordan Murphree hit a three-pointer 23 seconds later. The Bruins took their first lead of the game at 47-46 when Doreena Campbell hit a layup with just over seven minutes left. Tech knotted it up at 47-47 on a free throw by Roberson at 6:03.
From there, the lead changed four times and was tied once over the next minute and 45 seconds, with the last lead change coming as Tech's Tilmila Martin made a three-pointer to give the Lady Raiders a two-point edge at 53-52. UCLA was within two again, 57-55, with two minutes remaining and then neither team would score again until Roberson grabbed a rebound on a missed layup by UCLA's Jasmine Dixon with 4.7 seconds to go and was fouled to send her to the line for double bonus. Roberson connected on both those shots from the charity stripe to give Tech a four-point lead, which sealed the deal for the Lady Raiders. Campbell hit a three at the buzzer to cut Tech's win to just one-point.
Murphree was the key player for Tech tonight as she was the only Lady Raider in double figures with a season-high 22 points. On her third basket of the game, a three-pointer at 11:16, Murphree reached the 1,000th-career point plateau. She also finished with a career-high seven steals. The Lady Raiders relied heavily on their outside shooting as they hit 9-of-19 shots from behind the arc for 47.4 percent. Murphree had four of those nine threes, which tied her career high. Roberson was just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. Monique Smalls had a team-high three assists.
Dixon led UCLA with 14 points.
The Bruins outshot the Lady Raiders from the field, 45.3 percent to 35.7 percent. However, Tech outrebounded UCLA 36-34. Nineteen of those 36 rebounds were offensive boards.
Tech returns to action on Mon., Dec. 21, as it hosts Mercer at 7 p.m. in its final home game of 2009.
