Texas Tech Athletics
Arizona
Lady Raiders Tame Wildcats
November 21, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Texas Tech senior Kelsi Baker scored 10 points and 11 rebounds on Friday.
Nov. 21, 2014
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LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech senior Kelsi Baker notched her second career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead four players in double figures as the Lady Raiders held off Arizona in the final minutes for a 57-54 win Friday at United Supermarkets Arena.
Tech (3-0) tied the game at 48 with 3:17 to play after trailing by eight twice in the second half.
Arizona (0-2) would take back the lead momentarily on a Candice Warthen free throw to make it 49-48. Then freshman Dayo Olabode and sophomore Ivonne CookTaylor combined for back-to-back scores to push Tech out to three-point lead.
The Lady Raiders hit five of their final eight free throws in the last 30 seconds to seal the win for their first 3-0 start since the 2011-12 season.
"I think they never lose faith in each other and their ability to make plays," head coach Candi Whitaker said. "They just kept grinding, kept chipping away and we had people step up and hit big shots. It kept us in the game where the lead didn't get away. It was always close enough to still stay in and make a run."
Olabode scored her second game in double digits with 11 while sophomore Jocelyn Mousty helped get things going on the boards. She was one of three Lady Raiders to grab six rebounds or more in the game (Roe, Baker) and helped outrebound Wildcats 20-10 on Arizona's basket in the second half.
"I think the stat that was the most glaring was our rebound count," Baker said. "Getting on the boards and getting stops defensively."
Mousty and Ivonne CookTaylor's play off the bench became the difference later in the game for Tech after starter Rayven Brooks fouled out with less than two minutes to play. Mousty scored a career-high 10 points in just her third game while CookTaylor poured in 13 to combine with Ryann Bowser for 25 bench points.
Mousty said the difference in the game was Tech's energy.
"The first game we kind of started off lackadaisical but now we are starting to pick it up and work really hard," she said. "We are also starting to come together as a team, and the chemistry is only going to get better."
Now the Lady Raiders have one day off before turning their attention to Morgan State (2-2) and their senior guard Tracey Carrington for a 2 p.m. tip on Sunday. Carrington is averaging 20.3 points per game and scored a season-high 27 on Tuesday against Wesley College.
"They are very, very athletic," Whitaker said. "They have a big-time scorer so we're going to have to guard better than we have and do a good job of containing."
